Lyonnais share their sadness after the death of Gérard Collomb, historic mayor of the city

Gérard Collomb died on Saturday at the age of 76. He had presided over the destiny of Lyon for 19 years, leaving his mark on the city. “The Lyonnais are orphans,” said Emmanuel Macron.

Coming out of the traffic jams, dear to Gérard Collomb, the Lyonnais were stunned to learn of the death of the man who led their city for 19 years, from 2001 to 2020. “He’s a very good mayor, even if he’s not on my political sidebelieves David. It’s a sad loss. He did many, many things for Lyon. It’s very sad.” Gérard Collomb died on Saturday November 25, at the age of 76. He announced in September 2022 that he was suffering from stomach cancer. On X, ex-Twitter, Emmanuel Macron saluted the one who believed in him from the start. “The people of Lyon are orphans and I share their grief”writes the President of the Republic.

“Afterwards he left for Macron, then he left because he saw the wind turncontinues David, in reference to Gérard Collomb’s express stint at the Ministry of the Interior, which lasted only 16 months, between May 2017 and October 2018. He got involved with people he shouldn’t have. He lost the town hall because of that. Unfortunately for us, it’s very sad”continues this Lyonnais.

“He was a bit like everyone”

Clémentine, 33, says she has “a lot of pain”. The Collomb years are all his youth. “He is a figure of the city and even of France, because he is a beautiful person. He was a bit of an everyman in politics and I really did not expect this news this evening. I’m really moved.”

At the Gabriel brewery, it’s astonishment. The manager, Landry, remembers the former mayor. “I served him at the time, at the very beginning of my career. And frankly, he is a very nice person. He is a historic monument of Lyon.”

“He was a bon vivant, someone who liked to have a good laugh, to eat well and so obviously, yes, he was a real Lyonnais, good food and all that.”

Landry, manager of the Gabriel brewery

at franceinfo

“I hope the funeral will be magnificent and that there will still be a nice tribute. There will be something huge I think”, assures Landry. In the meantime, political reactions have multiplied, both nationally and locally. On X, Grégory Doucet, environmentalist mayor of Lyon since 2020, writes his “deep sadness” faced with the death of a “transformative and humanist mayor” thati “will have forever marked the history of Lyon”.

Gérard Collomb was also a big fan of Olympique Lyonnais, where he attended all of their matches. The 40,000 spectators expected for the confrontation against Lille at Parc OL on Sunday November 26 at 8:45 p.m. will undoubtedly honor his memory.