Saint-Denis, located slightly over 9 kilometers from central Paris, is situated in the poorest department of metropolitan France. This region is characterized by high unemployment rates, low income levels, and significant social challenges. However, on the evening of March 15, the town hall of Saint-Denis became the site of vibrant celebrations. A jubilant crowd lifted the newly elected mayor, Bally Bagayoko, onto their shoulders, repeatedly chanting his name. Bagayoko, who led a left-wing coalition that included the radical left party La France Insoumise (LFI) and the Communist Party, achieved a remarkable victory by winning the second-largest city in the Île-de-France region in the first round of voting. Notably, he was the only candidate in France representing a population exceeding 150,000 who did not face a runoff election.
For the first time, Saint-Denis, which is home to individuals from 130 different nationalities, has a mayor who mirrors its diverse community, being a native of the city and the child of Malian immigrants.
Bagayoko is not alone in this achievement. Other suburbs around Paris, where a significant portion of the population descends from postcolonial migrants, have also seen the election of mayors of color, marking a historic moment. In Seine-Saint-Denis, a total of 13 mayors of color were elected out of 39, representing various political affiliations.
In a national landscape where the far right holds more municipal power than ever, the rise of a new generation of politicians of color should be celebrated as a positive indicator of democratic vitality. However, this development has been met with shockwaves in a France that struggles to fully embrace its citizens of color.
The celebrations in Saint-Denis were short-lived, as the uniqueness of this election quickly ignited a media response that bordered on panic. Following Bagayoko’s victory announcement, accusations arose on social media suggesting that he had claimed in an interview on election night that he would transform Saint-Denis into a “city of Black people.” In reality, he had referred to it as “la ville des rois,” a well-known reference to the Basilica of Saint-Denis, the historical burial site of numerous French monarchs.
This false narrative, initially propagated by far-right sources, soon permeated mainstream media, with no basis other than the mayor’s skin color, which led many to assume he would be unable or unwilling to govern inclusively.
Bagayoko is not a political novice; his background is quite conventional within democratic politics. He has been an elected official since 2001, serving as deputy mayor and vice-president of the departmental council, as well as holding a senior position in the Paris region’s transport company, RATP. His career path does not deviate from traditional political trajectories.
However, one journalist confronted him with allegations that his campaign had received support from drug dealers, questioning “whose hands” he was in.
The nature of the attacks escalated when a guest on the right-wing news channel CNews compared him to a “primitive tribal chief” and a monkey. This incident is currently under police investigation, while CNews has denied any accusations of racism.
Despite the gravity of the insults aimed at a representative of the Republic, the institutional response has been inadequate. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez condemned the attacks but only did so after facing pressure from the media and the National Assembly.
President Emmanuel Macron, typically quick to respond to such matters, merely had his entourage state that he “has always condemned all racist attacks, wherever they may originate,” without addressing the specific incidents directed at Bagayoko.
Last Saturday, I joined a large gathering in Saint-Denis in response to the new mayor’s call for a rally against racism, uniting symbolically between the basilica and the town hall. While I was energized by the presence of tens of thousands of individuals from diverse generations, I was disheartened to see that no government representatives attended. The minister responsible for discrimination, Aurore Bergé, offered a dubious explanation for her absence, stating that it was “not the role of the state” to be present, despite the participation of high-ranking officials in a march against antisemitism in November 2023.
Throughout the suburbs of Paris, beyond Seine-Saint-Denis, many newly elected officials owe their successes not to political party structures but to their local roots and community connections, often developed through sports, youth initiatives, and grassroots organizing.
However, all of them have encountered racist attacks. Rather than celebrating an unprecedented surge in democratic participation marked by high voter turnout and scenes of joy at city halls, media and political figures continue to view these citizens as illegitimate voters. For instance, one interviewer pressed Bagayoko to justify why certain housing projects and council blocks in Saint-Denis had “overvoted,” as if high turnout in these areas was a concern. Elected officials are often portrayed as outsiders, as though they had illegitimately entered the political arena, despite having clear popular support. Four Black members of the National Assembly, all from LFI, even received a letter suggesting they should belong in a zoo rather than parliament.
The emergence of this new generation of leaders of color is not coincidental; they have spent years cultivating initiatives that reflect their experiences and those of the communities they serve.
Additionally, they are dedicated to improving some of the most impoverished and youthful districts in the country. Voter turnout remains worryingly low, and the needs of residents are pressing.
