We received in the mail a formal, written invitation to a joint reception, held by Accueil des Villes Francaises [AVF], of which we are members and have spoken of before, and the Mayor’s Office, to be held in the Hotel de Ville, or City Hall of Lyon. Scheduled for the evening of January 27, 2011, and its purpose was to formally welcome newcomers to the Lyon area. The Hotel de Ville, a sumptuously appointed building that we had toured during the Annual Days of Patrimony, hosted the event in a huge reception hall with enormous chandeliers, and walls and ceiling covered in paintings, gilding, and sculptures. English-language guided tours were provided, enabling us to learn more about the City, its government, and the building.
France’s political system, while similar to the US, has some fascinating differences. One is the fact that a person can hold several offices at the same time. For instance, the Parti-Socialiste Maire of Lyon, Gerard Colomb, is also a Senator in the national legislature. This makes him a powerful and influential person in the region because he wields power and influence on a local, regional, and national level. From a US point of view, one could argue that having one person hold multiple offices concentrates too much power in a few hands, and makes it difficult for others to successfully run for office. The French seem to feel that a person can be more effective if he/she is influential and powerful in multiple spheres.
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| The Hotel de Ville de Lyon. |
See below for more pix.
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| The Reception Hall, taken earlier |
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| Fireplace in the Reception Hall |
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| Grand Staircase leading up to the Reception Hall |
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