Administrative court extends annulations to Vaulx-en-Velin and Vénissieux
Administrative court annuls Vaulx-en-Velin and Vénissieux elections won by LFI deputies.
Event / Politics
Rhône Municipal Elections Annulations
French administrative courts annulled municipal elections in the Rhône region due to electoral law violations, with cases under review by the Council of State.
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2026-09-29 to 2026-10-29 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 29 Sept, 14:49 UTC
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What happened
LFI candidate Hadi Mebarki won Saint-Fons election with 41% of votes
In the second round of Saint-Fons municipal elections, Hadi Mebarki, a former deputy to the outgoing mayor and LFI candidate, won with approximately 41% of votes cast. He had received over 37% of votes in the first round. Four lists competed in the second round, with Duchêne's list absent from that round.
New municipal elections required within three months if Council of State confirms annulation
If the Council of State confirms the annulation of the Saint-Fons, Vaulx-en-Velin, and Vénissieux elections, new municipal elections must be organized within three months in these communes.
Incumbent mayor's list violated electoral law by omitting candidate nationality
The list of outgoing mayor Christian Duchêne (divers gauche) failed to mention the Portuguese nationality of a running mate in the first round, violating electoral law requirements. The list received 901 votes (28% of votes cast) in the first round. The administrative court found that 192 ballots were counted incorrectly and declared these ballots null, rendering the electoral expression of Duchêne's voters without legal effect.
Mebarki announced appeal to Council of State over annulation decision
Hadi Mebarki, the mayor elected in March, stated he was not surprised by the court decision and announced he would appeal the annulation to the Council of State. The mayors of Vénissieux and Vaulx-en-Velin are also contesting their election annulations before the Council of State.
Administrative court also annulled elections in Vaulx-en-Velin and Vénissieux won by LFI deputies
In late September, the administrative court annulled municipal elections in Vaulx-en-Velin (53,000 inhabitants) and Vénissieux (65,000 inhabitants), both won narrowly in March by LFI deputies Idir Boumertit and Abdelkader Lahmar respectively. These annulations were also based on electoral irregularities found on competing lists.
Lyon administrative court annuls Saint-Fons municipal election won by LFI candidate
The administrative court of Lyon annulled the municipal elections in Saint-Fons (south of Lyon) that were won by La France Insoumise (LFI) candidate Hadi Mebarki in March 2026. The annulation was based on electoral irregularities found on a competing list. This is the third similar annulation for LFI in the Rhône department, following similar decisions in Vaulx-en-Velin and Vénissieux.
RN-UDR candidate Quentin Taïeb declared ineligible for 24 months
Quentin Taïeb, the head of the RN-UDR list in Vénissieux, was declared ineligible for 24 months by the Lyon administrative court. The court found he made false domicile declarations and those of certain fellow candidates with fraudulent intent.
LFI victories in Vaulx-en-Velin and Saint-Fons municipalities also face annulation
Two other LFI municipal victories in the Lyon suburbs are threatened with annulation. The public rapporteur recommended in mid-September that the Vaulx-en-Velin election (53,000 inhabitants) be annulled due to irregularities on a centrist list. A decision on Saint-Fons (20,000 inhabitants), won by LFI candidate Hadi Mebarki with 41% of votes, is expected within two to three weeks following irregularities concerning the Portuguese nationality of an outgoing mayor's running mate.
Lyon administrative court annuls municipal election results in Vénissieux
The administrative tribunal of Lyon annulled the municipal elections held on March 15 and 22, 2026 in Vénissieux, a city of 65,000 inhabitants near Lyon. The court found that the entire electoral process was compromised and ruled that all electoral operations must be invalidated in their entirety.
New municipal election in Vénissieux to be organized within six weeks if confirmed by Constitutional Council
If the Constitutional Council confirms the administrative court's annulation decision on appeal, a new municipal election must be organized within six weeks in Vénissieux. The timing poses a challenge as it coincides with the planned presidential election in April and early May 2027.
RN-UDR list finished fourth with 1,361 votes in Vénissieux election
The RN-UDR list led by Quentin Taïeb received 1,361 votes in the second round of the Vénissieux municipal election and finished in fourth place. Despite the list's poor performance, the court found that irregularities in its candidacy were significant enough to compromise the credibility of the entire election outcome.
LFI candidate Idir Boumertit won Vénissieux election by 25 votes margin
LFI candidate Idir Boumertit won the mayoral election in Vénissieux on March 22, 2026, defeating communist incumbent Michèle Picard by only 25 votes. Boumertit, who also serves as a deputy, claimed victory with the narrow margin later becoming the basis for the election annulation.
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2 alternative perspectives
Saint-Fons election annulled; LFI winner challenges decision at Council of State
Saint-Fons election annulled for electoral law violation; LFI winner appeals to Council of State.
Election annulations spread across Lyon suburbs beyond Vénissieux
LFI victories in two additional Lyon suburbs face annulation alongside Vénissieux's overturned election.
Lyon court annuls Vénissieux municipal election results
Lyon court annuls Vénissieux election; new vote planned pending Constitutional Council approval.