Bally Bagayoko faces scrutiny over RATP and Saint-Denis roles

Bally Bagayoko, the mayor of Saint-Denis, is facing scrutiny regarding his dual roles at the RATP and within local government. Reports indicate that Bagayoko has held positions at the RATP since 2001 while simultaneously serving in municipal roles, including as a deputy mayor and municipal councillor.

Data attributed to declarations made to the High Authority for Transparency in Public Life (HATVP) suggests that during the 2014-2020 term, Bagayoko received approximately 112,769 euros annually from combined sources. This included roughly 51,447 euros from the RATP, 45,500 euros from his role as a general councillor for Seine-Saint-Denis, and 15,822 euros as deputy mayor of Saint-Denis.

The controversy has led the association AC !! Anti-Corruption to file a complaint with the National Financial Prosecutor's Office, citing suspicions of embezzlement of public funds and fictitious employment. While supporters of the La France Insoumise (LFI) mayor have characterized the investigation as a politically motivated racial attack, others have called for transparency regarding the accumulation of multiple remunerated positions.