French Government Warns Saint-Denis Mayor Against Political Dismissals of Municipal Agents

On March 26, 2026, David Amiel, France's Minister of Action and Public Accounts, issued a formal warning to Bally Bagayoko, the newly elected mayor of Saint-Denis from La France Insoumise (LFI), regarding the illegal dismissal of municipal agents based on political grounds. Amiel underscored that no municipal authority may legally suggest that an agent’s employment depends on their political alignment with the local government. He highlighted that any decisions to remove agents for political reasons would be illegal, subject to administrative annulment, and could amount to moral harassment or discrimination.

Bagayoko, who won the mayoralty on March 15 by defeating the socialist incumbent, had made controversial comments implying that municipal employees not aligned with his political project would naturally leave or seek transfers. He clarified on multiple occasions that he does not intend to dismiss any agents outright but acknowledged that public servants often respond to political directives. This political stance has coincided with a surge in transfer requests, particularly among municipal police, with reports of 90 such requests since his tenure began.

Additionally, Bagayoko has announced plans to gradually disarm the municipal police, focusing on less-lethal weapons, while maintaining a strong police presence in the community. His proposals and remarks have generated significant controversy, drawing not only government scrutiny but also racist and false accusations against him on social media.

The warning letter from Amiel serves as a strict legal reminder amidst these tensions and is reinforced by Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez’s statement that movements of municipal agents following changes in political leadership will be closely monitored by prefects to ensure legality.

Despite the backlash, Bagayoko maintains that he is not conducting a political purge or witch hunt but anticipates natural personnel shifts within municipal services as political projects change.