François Rebsamen explains why he is leaving Dijon town hall

This Monday, November 18, the mayor of Dijon François Rebsamen announced that he would leave his position to his deputy Nathalie Koenders at the next municipal council. On the France 3 Bourgogne set, he explains the reasons which pushed him to make this decision.

A small earthquake shook the Dijon political scene this Monday, November 18, 2024. At 73 years old and after more than 22 years at the head of Dijon town hall, François Rebsamen will no longer be the mayor of the city of Dukes and this, from the next municipal council.

His deputy Nathalie Koenders should then take the reins of the Burgundian capital, while François Rebsamen will remain at the head of the Greater Dijon metropolis. Guest of Arnaud Lefèvre in the France 3 Burgundy television news this Monday evening, the future ex-mayor of Dijon explained his decision.

François Rebsamen : “Absolutely not. I consciously and responsibly chose the moment to hand over the function and responsibility of mayor to my first deputy Nathalie Koenders, in whom I have all my confidence. And the time has come.”

“I'm doing it because I think it's good to allow a new generation, whom I elected and who accompanied me, to reach municipal responsibilities. I have every confidence in Nathalie Koenders.”

François Rebsamen : “Yes, but I consider that I still have the strength to take on an important task, that of taking care of the 23 municipalities of the Metropolis. And of course, there is Dijon in it! And I keep Chimène's eyes for this city, especially for its inhabitants, who are in my heart. This happiness of having been mayor for 23 years is something that is the honor and pleasure of my life.”

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“It’s a city that I love and these are residents that I love. And they have given me back. I hope to continue to serve them!”

François Rebsamen : “No, I think that three principles reside in municipal life. First, we must bring people together. And I have always wanted to bring people together by broadening my camp: keeping the values ​​that are mine, those of a social left- democratic and European, and around a project of solidarity and health, to bring together other political forces around me. What I did.”

Dijon is today an internationally recognized metropolis and regional capital.

François Rebsamen

Mayor of Dijon from 2001 to 2024

“Then, we must act and that means transforming the city. And this city, which was above all a departmental capital at the beginning of the century, is today a metropolis and a regional capital recognized internationally.”

“My third principle is to transmit. That is to say, to trust those whom we have allowed to rise and to transmit this confidence to them by giving them the charge and the responsibility. It is an act democratic, ultimately.”

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“I remain president of the metropolis, I will continue to do politics. It fascinates me, it's my life, serving our fellow citizens. Local life is what fascinates me, everyone has seen it . I have a visceral attachment to Dijon.”

François Rebsamen : “I'm not there yet, we'll see when the time comes. She'll have to suggest it to me first. And I don't know that yet today!”

François Rebsamen : “Dijon will never be Lyon. Dijon will remain a pleasant metropolis to live in, that is to say one of balance. On the other hand, as president of the Metropolis, I wish to put an end to this opposition between the rural and the “urban. I think that these two forces must add up and not clash. This will be my task at the head of the Metropolis.”