French lawmaker Éric Coquerel has dismissed a financial crime investigation targeting Bally Bagayoko, the La France Insoumise mayor of Saint-Denis, calling the inquiry politically motivated and predicting it will lead to nothing.
France's National Financial Prosecutor's Office opened the probe into Bagayoko over allegations of embezzlement of public funds, receiving stolen goods, and corruption following press reports and complaints from the anti-corruption group AC!! Anti-corruption.
Speaking on the morning broadcast of French news network LCI on Tuesday, August 25, Coquerel described the preliminary investigation as a storm in a teacup. He argued that the charges against the local official were being driven by political opponents.
La France Insoumise, or France Unbowed, is a major left-wing French political party led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon. Saint-Denis is a large municipality located in the Seine-Saint-Denis department in the northern suburbs of Paris. The National Financial Prosecutor's Office, known as the PNF, is the federal judicial authority responsible for investigating public sector corruption and financial crimes in France.
Allegations of political motivation
Coquerel, who serves as a deputy for Seine-Saint-Denis and chairs the National Assembly Finance Committee, insisted that Bagayoko was being targeted because of his racial background, working-class origins, and left-wing politics. He stated that since Bagayoko became mayor, he had faced persistent attacks over administrative matters that would ordinarily pass without scrutiny.
The lawmaker asserted that political opponents could not tolerate a Black mayor who belongs to La France Insoumise and supports Mélenchon, calling that combination the cherry on the cake for his critics. Coquerel accused former Socialist predecessors at the Saint-Denis town hall of leaking details about the allegations to the investigative newspaper Le Canard enchaîné.
Le Canard enchaîné is a weekly French satirical and investigative newspaper known for uncovering public sector scandals. Saint-Denis was governed for decades by a coalition of left-wing parties, including the Socialist Party, prior to recent municipal leadership changes.
Employment at public transport operator
Coquerel also rejected accusations concerning Bagayoko's continued employment with RATP, the Paris regional public transport operator, while he served as deputy mayor. He explained that holding outside employment is standard practice across France because municipal deputy mayors do not receive financial allowances large enough to leave their professional careers.
The Finance Committee chairman stated that Bagayoko's professional work for the transport authority was fully proven and verified. He warned that if the financial prosecutor's office pursued such routine arrangements, the agency would soon find itself overwhelmed with work, adding that the case was part of an ongoing attempt to demonise La France Insoumise.
Under French judicial procedure, Bagayoko remains presumed innocent while the prosecutor's office conducts its preliminary investigation.
