Since this Wednesday, the revelations in the press of an accusation of rape against Roman Abreu, advisor to Jean-Michel Aulas during the Lyon municipal election campaign, have caused a stir in the metropolitan majority.
This Thursday, Véronique Sarselli, LR president of the Métropole de Lyon, has just reacted, via a press release, declaring to be “deeply shocked by the facts reported by the press”.
As reportedLe Progrès, the accusations made by an activist from Génération Aulas – she filed a complaint in mid-May for events which took place in January – were known to Jean-Michel Aulas and his running mate Laure Cédat in February.
Trois vice-présidents de la Métropole visés
The president of the Metropolis decided to summon them, as well as a third elected official, Emmanuel Imberton, this Thursday morning. Are there only three? Were other elected officials aware?
Véronique Sarselli announced in any case, at the end of this meeting, that she had asked these three vice-presidents “to step back from their representative functions of the Métropole de Lyon in respect of the presumed victim of the institution they represent.”
If no date is mentioned for these periods of “withdrawal”, she indicates that she “trusts the justice system to work quickly and that all light can be shed”. According to those around her, this withdrawal implies no longer participating in the activities of the Metropolis, both publicly and internally.
Contacted by Le Progrès just after Véronique Sarselli’s communication, Jean-Michel Aulas indicated “that no decision had been taken”.
“We cannot accept this withdrawal request”
Later in the day on Thursday, while indicating that they “deeply” respect the Metropolis and “the pain” of victims of sexual violence, Jean-Michel Aulas and Laure Cédat quickly rejected them. “We cannot (…) accept this request for withdrawal,” because “we are neither accused nor involved in the legal proceedings,” they wrote in a press release.
“As soon as we were informed of the facts by the complainant (…) we made it clear to her that she could file a complaint, which she did not want to do at first,” they added.
Jean-Michel Aulas had already indicated that he had questioned his communications director and that the latter had assured him that the relationship had been “consensual”.
/2026/06/11/6a2a587d92a18977447817.jpg "Controversies at the 2026 World Cup: \"Football is political and the World Cup even more so\"recalls journalist Grégoire Margotton")
/2026/06/11/6a2a8294ada60297066700.jpg "Finale NBA : comment Victor Wembanyama et les Spurs ont dilapidé une avance de 29 points et perdu le match 4 crucial face aux New York Knicks")
