The former interior minister was preferred to his rival David Kimelfeld.

The Republic on the march (LREM) on Monday invested Gerard Collomb to lead the metropolis of Lyon after the municipal elections in March, preferring his competitor David Kimelfeld.

The presidential party has invoked in a statement "loyalty to one of the first supporters of the President of the Republic" and the "coherence" of a "local elected official who has personally led the creation of the Metropolis of Lyon (and) who has actively contributed to its influence. LREM also said "regret" that David Kimelfeld has not "registered" in a "joint approach".