Nathalie Koenders Takes the Helm of Dijon Métropole, Ending François Rebsamen's 24-Year Era

Nathalie Koenders, a member of the Socialist Party (PS), was elected president of Dijon Métropole after securing 69 out of 84 expressed votes during the voting session held on Monday, November 9.

The Mayor of Dijon and former vice-president of the metropolis defeated her opponents: Emmanuel Bichot of The Republicans (LR), who received 13 votes, and Thierry Coudert of the National Rally (RN), who obtained two votes. Koenders becomes the first woman to assume the presidency of this metropolitan authority.

Looking Toward the Future

In a statement following her victory, Nathalie Koenders said: "It is a great honor to lead this team of mayors who are deeply committed to their territories and their residents." She emphasized her goal to make the metropolis a place that "inspires confidence," adding: "Dijon Métropole has all the assets to address social, environmental, and economic challenges, and we must keep young people in mind to build a better future for them."

Turning the Page on François Rebsamen

This vote marks the end of an era for François Rebsamen, who presided over Dijon Métropole for 24 years, from taking office on March 25, 2001, until his recent election to the French Senate in September 2026. Under French legislation prohibiting the accumulation of local executive offices with parliamentary mandates, the Côte-d'Or senator could no longer retain his presidential post, becoming solely a councilor within the metropolitan assembly.

Rebsamen's tenure witnessed major infrastructure projects that reshaped the urban landscape, most notably the inauguration of two tramway lines in 2012, the opening of the Olympic swimming pool in 2010, and the Zénith de Dijon concert hall in 2005. His recent achievements also included the launch of the "Response" project in 2020 in the Fontaine d'Ouche district, which featured the installation of 4,500 solar panels generating approximately 2 MW of renewable energy as part of a carbon-reduction strategy.