Cécile Helle

Cécile Helle is a French politician and the current mayor of Avignon, having first been elected in 2014. A member of the Socialist Party, she made headlines recently by announcing that she will not seek a third term in the upcoming 2026 municipal elections, honoring a commitment she made when first elected. Helle, a trained geographer, has focused on local governance and has declined offers for higher political positions, emphasizing her dedication to her role as mayor. Her decision has stirred political ambitions among potential successors in one of the few left-leaning cities in the Southeast of France.