Bally Bagayoko becomes face of France student protests

Bally Bagayoko, the France Unbowed mayor of Saint-Denis, has become a prominent supporter of France's high school student protests after videos showed him confronting riot police and marching with teenagers.

Bagayoko, 53, was elected in March as mayor of the Paris suburb, which has a large population of immigrant origin. He has backed students demanding better conditions at high schools and says low-income areas such as Saint-Denis face discrimination because their infrastructure is poorer than in wealthier areas.

A video that spread widely this week showed Bagayoko with his arms out as he stood between protesters and advancing anti-riot police. He told CNN he had stepped in to stop police hurting students.

On Thursday, Bagayoko joined a protest at Place de la Bastille in Paris, posed for selfies and urged President Emmanuel Macron to apologise for injuries suffered by students. Members of the security forces have also been wounded.

Bagayoko has said he is “not a hero” and has urged students to stay calm and non-violent. He has also accused police of excessive force and said he has been hit by tear gas.

The mayor has drawn criticism from opponents. Paris police chief Patrice Faure reported him to judicial authorities for alleged incitement to commit violence after Bagayoko said during the protests that “violence can, at a certain point, be legitimate”, while adding that it is better to avoid it whenever possible. Eric Ciotti, an ally of far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, said the government should use its powers to dismiss Bagayoko for “inciting and stoking” violence.

Bagayoko has also rejected claims that videos showed him dancing near a fire lit by protesters, saying he had been trying to put out the flames.