Le Chained duck The weekly magazine claims that Bally Bagayoko, the LFI mayor of Saint-Denis–Pierrefitte, held a full-time management position at the RATP (Parisian public transport operator) for several years while also serving as an elected official. The magazine questions the legitimacy of this salaried position and suggests the possibility of a fictitious job. Bally Bagayoko firmly denies these accusations and maintains that he did indeed perform his duties within the RATP. At this stage, no judicial investigation has been announced.
A long-standing recruitment at the RATP
According to Chained duckBally Bagayoko joined the RATP (Parisian public transport operator) in 2000, on the recommendation of Jacques Marsaud, then a member of the company's senior management. The weekly magazine claims he was recruited without taking a competitive exam or going through a traditional job interview. Patrick Braouezec, the former Communist mayor of Saint-Denis, explains that the RATP was pursuing a recruitment policy at the time aimed at diversifying its workforce and hiring more people from working-class neighborhoods. Conversely, Kader Chibane, the Green Party leader of the opposition in Saint-Denis, believes it was a politically motivated hiring. However, no legal proceedings or administrative decisions have yet been made to substantiate this claim.
Holding multiple mandates while employed
Over the years, Bally Bagayoko became deputy mayor of Saint-Denis, then vice-president of the Seine-Saint-Denis departmental council, before being elected mayor of Saint-Denis–Pierrefitte in March 2026. He has also presided over Plaine Commune since April. Chained duck He claims that he continued to receive his salary from the RATP (Parisian public transport authority) while also receiving allowances related to his various local mandates. His remuneration from the RATP reportedly reached the equivalent of more than 6.000 euros per month, including the thirteenth-month bonus and other bonuses. Bally Bagayoko does not dispute this amount.
Bally Bagayoko denies any suggestion of a fictitious job
The mayor of Saint-Denis categorically denies the accusations of holding a fictitious job. He asserts that maintaining his professional activity allowed him to "keep his feet on the ground" and avoid living exclusively in the political sphere. He also believes that a local elected official should not necessarily abandon their profession when holding office.
Internal discussions that fuel questions
Le Chained duck The report also reveals the existence of text messages dating from January 2025 between RATP officials. Sylvain Durand, then chief of staff to Jean Castex when he was head of the public transport authority, described Bally Bagayoko as a "committed and dedicated" employee. He nevertheless warned of the risk that any accusations could tarnish both the public company and the elected official.
No investigation has been opened to date.
At this stage, neither the RATP nor the judiciary has announced the opening of an investigation to determine whether any irregularities have been committed. The accusations relayed by the Chained duck are contested by Bally Bagayoko, and no court decision has, for the time being, established the existence of a fictitious job.
