A far-left French mayor openly called for insurrection on national television if conservative voters deliver a democratic victory to the National Rally in France’s upcoming presidential election, brazenly rejecting the legitimacy of free elections that don’t align with his radical ideology.
Leftist Mayor Rejects Electoral Democracy on Live Television
Bally Bagayoko, mayor of Saint-Denis—a multicultural Paris suburb—appeared on LCI Direct and unleashed a tirade against democratic legitimacy itself. When journalist Jean-Michel Aphatie explicitly warned him about inciting insurrection, Bagayoko ignored the caution and declared “It’s either us or them… that is to say, the far right.” He asserted that if the National Rally wins democratically, he is “firmly convinced that the people will rise up” to overturn the election results. This represents a direct assault on constitutional order, where leftist politicians now openly claim authority to nullify votes they dislike.
‘It’s either us or them’ – Far-left French mayor calls for insurrection if conservatives win presidential election, attacks Macron as wellhttps://t.co/E8o0KN8ufK
— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) May 13, 2026
Dangerous Distinction Between Institutional and Popular Legitimacy
Bagayoko attempted to create a fabricated theoretical framework to justify rejecting democracy, claiming an RN victory would possess “institutional legitimacy” but lack “popular legitimacy.” This distinction has no foundation in constitutional governance or democratic theory. Electoral legitimacy derives from free and fair elections, not from whether far-left politicians approve of the outcome. By suggesting that institutional legitimacy—meaning lawful democratic elections—can be overridden by his subjective interpretation of “popular” will, Bagayoko reveals the authoritarian impulse underlying contemporary leftist politics. Democratic systems require acceptance of electoral results as binding, regardless of ideological preferences.
Historical Justifications Fail to Support Modern Insurrection
The Saint-Denis mayor cited the 1789 Storming of the Bastille and the 2018-2019 Yellow Vest protests as precedents for popular uprising, arguing “all the important reforms in this country have been achieved through popular uprisings.” This historical revisionism ignores that France now operates under a constitutional democratic framework fundamentally different from pre-revolutionary monarchy. The Yellow Vest movement, while demonstrating public discontent with Macron’s economic policies, did not attempt to overturn democratic elections. Bagayoko’s rhetoric normalizes extra-institutional political mobilization and threatens to destabilize France’s constitutional order heading into the spring 2025 presidential election.
🔴 Bally Bagayoko appelle à une insurrection populaire en cas de victoire du RN
✅ Bien que @BallyBagayoko soit mis en garde à deux reprises par son interlocuteur sur la réception de ses propos séditieux, l'édile irresponsable confirme.
🕵️ @oumma pic.twitter.com/0wvX64bzGS
— French Carcan (@FrenchCarcan) May 8, 2026
Macron Blamed for Conservative Resurgence
Bagayoko also attacked President Emmanuel Macron, claiming “Under Macron, the far right has never been so strong.” The National Rally’s growing electoral strength reflects French voters’ legitimate concerns about immigration, economic inequality, and cultural change—issues centrist and leftist governance has failed to address effectively. Marine Le Pen reached the presidential runoff in 2022, and polling shows the RN competitive heading into 2025. Rather than acknowledging these policy failures, far-left politicians like Bagayoko prefer to delegitimize conservative voters and threaten civil unrest. This pattern mirrors dangerous democratic backsliding seen across Europe, where leftist elites reject popular sovereignty when outcomes challenge their ideological preferences.
Implications for Democratic Stability and Constitutional Order
Bagayoko’s statements represent more than inflammatory rhetoric—they signal a fundamental challenge to France’s constitutional framework. When elected officials openly advocate rejecting democratic outcomes and organizing insurrection, they erode public confidence in institutional legitimacy and normalize political violence. France’s fragmented parliament, following Macron’s June 2024 dissolution and snap elections that produced no clear majority, already faces institutional instability. Adding explicit calls for extra-institutional mobilization creates conditions for potential civil unrest or constitutional crisis. This should concern Americans watching similar patterns of leftist delegitimization of conservative electoral victories. Democratic governance depends on all parties accepting electoral legitimacy, even when ideological opponents win. Bagayoko’s rejection of this principle threatens not just French stability but the broader resilience of Western democratic institutions.
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