Fighting racism 'must be at heart of presidential debate', French mayor tells RFI
France needs to take concrete action to tackle growing racism before the 2027 presidential election, the newly installed mayor of Saint-Denis Bally Bagayoko tells RFI, after facing racist abuse in the weeks following his election in mid-March.
Issued on: 01/05/2026 - RFI
Bally Bagayoko in the RFI studio on 22 April, 2026, to talk about challenges he's faced since becoming mayor of Saint-Denis, north of Paris. © rfi
Born in France to Malian parents, Bagayoko of the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party – which the government has designated "far-left" – is now mayor of the second largest town in the Ile-de-France region after Paris. Shortly after being elected, he was the subject of racism, notably on the CNews television channel, on which a guest compared him to a primate. Bagayoko has filed an official complaint against the broadcaster. His town hall has also received racist phone calls.
RFI: You've been subjected to racist attacks, including on CNews. Did these surprise you?
BB: These attacks are utterly intolerable. And I’m unfortunately not the only one to have experienced them, so I want to express my full solidarity with all those who are victims of such remarks. We condemn them.
Now, we need to act. That’s why, on 4 April, we organised a major rally. Some 15,000 people came along to say that the anti-fascist and anti-racist struggle is still necessary. We hope we'll soon be able to develop policies that break with these dynamics, and also create the conditions so that by 2027 we have a government capable of addressing this issue.
RFI: Racism in politics isn’t new, and there has been resistance against it for decades too – people remember the 1983 march against racism [Marche des Beurs]. And yet you don’t think anything has changed?
BB: No. If anything, I would say things are getting worse.
RFI: Because of what you describe as an "unrestrained" form of racism?
BB: Because today we have social media. And we also have, unfortunately, a number of media outlets – such as CNews and others – which act as accomplices to racist discourse, when they're not actively spreading it themselves.
So we’re seeing a growing and increasingly powerful shockwave, which is forcing public authorities and politicians to respond. Public opinion also needs to be more alert – and above all more active.
It’s no longer acceptable to tolerate these attacks. And I say this all the more strongly because, as the mayor of a large city, I'm fortunate enough to have a voice. I get heard. But what about those who are victims of such remarks and remain silent? That's why we have to condemn this, and above all do something to change things.
RFI: So you don't think the State is doing enough? You’ve criticised President Emmanuel Macron for not reacting strongly enough.
BB: Yes, I said so, as I did to other government members who were very slow to respond. Then, under pressure from public opinion, the President of the Republic eventually clarified his position and, of course, condemned the remarks.
But what matters to us – those of us who are often from post-colonial immigrant backgrounds – is action. Of course, statements and condemnations are welcome, they matter emotionally. But what counts is concrete action to stop this happening.
ARCOM [the media watchdog] has a responsibility. The audiovisual regulator and the media must be held to account, and measures must be taken to prevent this kind of discourse.
Born in France to Malian parents, Bagayoko of the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party – which the government has designated "far-left" – is now mayor of the second largest town in the Ile-de-France region after Paris. Shortly after being elected, he was the subject of racism, notably on the CNews television channel, on which a guest compared him to a primate. Bagayoko has filed an official complaint against the broadcaster. His town hall has also received racist phone calls.
RFI: You've been subjected to racist attacks, including on CNews. Did these surprise you?
BB: These attacks are utterly intolerable. And I’m unfortunately not the only one to have experienced them, so I want to express my full solidarity with all those who are victims of such remarks. We condemn them.
Now, we need to act. That’s why, on 4 April, we organised a major rally. Some 15,000 people came along to say that the anti-fascist and anti-racist struggle is still necessary. We hope we'll soon be able to develop policies that break with these dynamics, and also create the conditions so that by 2027 we have a government capable of addressing this issue.
RFI: Racism in politics isn’t new, and there has been resistance against it for decades too – people remember the 1983 march against racism [Marche des Beurs]. And yet you don’t think anything has changed?
BB: No. If anything, I would say things are getting worse.
RFI: Because of what you describe as an "unrestrained" form of racism?
BB: Because today we have social media. And we also have, unfortunately, a number of media outlets – such as CNews and others – which act as accomplices to racist discourse, when they're not actively spreading it themselves.
So we’re seeing a growing and increasingly powerful shockwave, which is forcing public authorities and politicians to respond. Public opinion also needs to be more alert – and above all more active.
It’s no longer acceptable to tolerate these attacks. And I say this all the more strongly because, as the mayor of a large city, I'm fortunate enough to have a voice. I get heard. But what about those who are victims of such remarks and remain silent? That's why we have to condemn this, and above all do something to change things.
RFI: So you don't think the State is doing enough? You’ve criticised President Emmanuel Macron for not reacting strongly enough.
BB: Yes, I said so, as I did to other government members who were very slow to respond. Then, under pressure from public opinion, the President of the Republic eventually clarified his position and, of course, condemned the remarks.
But what matters to us – those of us who are often from post-colonial immigrant backgrounds – is action. Of course, statements and condemnations are welcome, they matter emotionally. But what counts is concrete action to stop this happening.
ARCOM [the media watchdog] has a responsibility. The audiovisual regulator and the media must be held to account, and measures must be taken to prevent this kind of discourse.
A protester holds a placard reading 'racism, xenophobia, hate get lost' during a rally against racism convened by Bagayoko in Saint-Denis, on 4 April, 2026. AFP - THOMAS SAMSON
RFI: You are planning another rally for May. Has that been confirmed?
BB: The original date was 3 May. But after discussions with a number of partners who want to be fully involved in this major gathering – which should be even larger than the one on 4 April – we agreed to move it to late May, or even early June.
The aim is to build a broad, popular initiative that brings together as many people as possible, to express our deep attachment to the values of the Republic – liberty, equality, fraternity – and to act against racism, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia.
RFI: Is this a key priority for you in office? Beyond rallies, are you thinking about other concrete actions?
BB: As mayor, I already have a direct responsibility to act. I also have responsibilities as an employer, which means these issues cannot be dealt with only in abstract terms – they must be addressed within the city itself.
That's why staff and elected representatives are trained in these issues.
Secondly, in Saint-Denis we'll always respond firmly and immediately to anything of this nature – whether it involves residents or media outlets that, in our view, undermine these values.
More broadly, change is needed at a national level – in law, in public decision-making and in how the media operates. There needs to be a major overhaul. That’s why this debate must be held on a national level.
RFI: So the aim is to make this a central issue in the 2027 presidential election?
BB: It has to be at the heart of the presidential debate. The goal is to ensure it’s firmly on the agenda – that the first debates, the first policy directions, the first measures address the question of which candidates are capable of countering the project of the far right in this country. That’s the issue.
Bagayoko, with the founder of France Unbowed (LFI) Jean-Luc Melenchon (left) on 4 April, 2026. AFP - THOMAS SAMSON
RFI: Some people have called you the “French Barack Obama”. The same was said of Karim Bouamrane, mayor of Saint-Ouen, close to Saint-Denis. Do you see that as a form of racism – reducing elected officials to their skin colour – or do you see real parallels with Obama’s trajectory?
BB: I would rather be compared to another figure – the mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani. As for the comparison with Barack Obama, that’s a bit of a stretch.
But yes, there is clearly an element linked to skin colour. And the fact he had a very close relationship with people – a very direct, unfiltered style. There’s an element of that.
But it doesn’t define who I want to be. I don’t want to be Barack Obama. I want to be Bally Bagayoko – the child of a working-class neighbourhood who does what I can, within my means, to stand up for what I believe is right in society.
Macron hardens attack on 'far-left' LFI, says antisemitic rhetoric must be tackled
RFI: Bouamrane Рwho ran against you for the presidency of Plaine Commune, the inter-municipal authority covering eight towns in Seine-Saint-Denis, an election you won Рhas accused you of wanting to turn it into a support base for the presidential campaign of Jean-Luc M̩lenchon, leader of LFI. Does that mean you'll struggle to work together?
BB: It’s interesting that the government classifies us as far-left. But it’s important to say clearly that we are on the left.
As for Karim Bouamrane, even within the left he's closer to the Macronist wing. That said, yes, we can work together. That’s why I held out my hand to him. It’s now up to him to take it – in the interests of residents.
RFI: This reflects a broader national picture where the left is struggling to unite ahead of the presidential election...
BB: I distinguish between political parties, politicians and left-wing voters and activists.
Some people within the Socialist Party share the idea of a more radical programme. That’s why I say that for the 2027 presidential election, we must be able to come together around a candidate. For me, it would be Jean-Luc Mélenchon. We’ll see what happens, but I believe it’s possible.
This article was adapted from an interview in French and has been edited for clarity.
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