Saint‑Denis Mayor Defends Booing of La Marseillaise and Faces Wide Political Rebuke

Overview

• Bally Bagayoko, mayor of Saint‑Denis and a member of La France insoumise, told L’Opinion that booing the national anthem can be “a right of popular reply” and linked the gesture to grievances felt by fans with ties to former colonies.
• Bagayoko issued a public defence on X and in a statement saying his comments were analysis, not an incitement to boo, and that some who whistle the anthem remain fully French citizens.
• The comments produced immediate cross‑party criticism, with Rassemblement National leader Jordan Bardella and Les Républicains official Othman Nasrou condemning the remarks and Socialist François Kalfon publicly rebuking Bagayoko.
• The mayor’s remarks revive a legal question because a 2003 law fines public outrage of the national anthem or tricolour up to €7,500 and come after a prefectural reprimand earlier this year when Bagayoko removed President Macron’s portrait from Saint‑Denis town hall.
• The dispute matters locally and nationally because Saint‑Denis hosts the Stade de France, past anthem‑booing incidents at major matches give the issue a volatile history, and the row could heighten tensions ahead of big football fixtures and the 2027 presidential campaign.