Jean-Michel Aulas, the former president of Olympique Lyonnais, has announced he will file a legal challenge to contest the results of the municipal election in Lyon's 2nd arrondissement. The announcement follows his defeat in the second round of voting on March 22, 2026.
According to official results from the Ministry of the Interior, Aulas, who led the "Lyon Passionnément" list, received 39.42% of the vote. He was defeated by the incumbent mayor, Pierre Oliver, of the "Lyon en Commun" list, who secured 60.58%.
In a statement, Aulas cited "serious irregularities" observed during the electoral process as the reason for his planned appeal. The specific nature of these alleged irregularities has not been publicly detailed.
The legal recourse will be filed with the administrative court. Such appeals are a standard part of the French electoral process, allowing candidates to formally question the conduct or results of an election.
