Stéphane Bern was elected on Thursday, July 23, as president of the association "Suivez la flèche" (Follow the Arrow), which is in charge of leading the reconstruction of the north tower and the spire of the Saint-Denis cathedral basilica, struck by lightning in 1837. The election took place without the vote of the rebellious mayor Bally Bagayoko, who left the meeting before the vote.
A presidency contested by the city's mayor
Bally Bagayoko had argued that the presidency of this association traditionally belonged to the mayor of Saint-Denis, a position he reportedly defended until he left the meeting before the vote could be held, according to several participants quoted by AFP. This dispute illustrates the tensions that can arise in the governance of major heritage projects, where the interests of local authorities, the state, and philanthropic associations intersect.
Stéphane Bern, contacted by phone by AFP, said he was happy to have been elected unanimously by the voters, without directly commenting on the mayor's absence during the vote.
A presenter already experienced in heritage preservation
Known for his show Secrets d'histoire and for initiating the Heritage in Peril mission, which has been financing the preservation of threatened monuments since 2018 thanks to the heritage lottery, Stéphane Bern is once again establishing himself as a central figure in the mobilization in favor of major French historical projects.
The Basilica of Saint-Denis, necropolis of the kings of France since the early Middle Ages, lost its spire during a violent storm in 1837, leaving the north tower without its original crowning, which the association now hopes to rebuild.
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