Saint-Denis – 08.06.2026: Bally Bagayoko, Mayor of Saint-Denis and member of the left platform La France Insoumise (LFI), clarified on June 8 that the slogan “On est chez nous” is not reserved for the far right. In the TV show “Les 4 Vérités,” he emphasized that all people who see themselves as part of the French Republic have the right to claim this expression for themselves.
This statement followed immediately after the first campaign appearance of Jean-Luc Mélenchon in Saint-Denis, which holds symbolic significance for the left movement. Mélenchon had adopted the slogan “On est chez nous” for his campaign to strengthen citizens’ sense of belonging to the Republic. Bagayoko explained that this expression must not be monopolized by the far right, which instrumentalizes it for nationalist purposes.
The slogan had been primarily shaped in recent years by right-wing groups using it to express an exclusive national sentiment. Bagayoko opposed this appropriation and stressed that the expression also stands for multicultural societies living together in the Republic. He called on people not to leave the political dispute over such terms to the far right.
The debate about the slogan takes place against the background of societal polarization in France. Issues such as integration, citizenship, and belonging have long been controversial and are interpreted differently by various parties in the election campaign. Mélenchon’s left deliberately positions itself against exclusion and for an inclusive concept of republicanism.
Bagayoko emphasized that the right to political symbols and words cannot be claimed exclusively as long as they do not contain messages of hatred or exclusion. The Mayor of Saint-Denis sees the use of the slogan by the left as a reclaiming for an inclusive and solidarity-based social policy.
Reactions to Bagayoko’s statement were mixed. While the left welcomed the move, right-wing parties criticized Mélenchon and his supporters’ use of the slogan as abusive. Thus, the symbolism of the expression “On est chez nous” remains a contested political term.
Looking ahead to the 2027 presidential elections, it is apparent that such linguistic frontiers will continue to shape political debate in France. The dispute over national identity, integration, and belonging remains one of the central issues, whose interpretation is significantly influenced by the use of political key terms.
Overall, the dispute over the slogan “On est chez nous” illustrates the profound tension between different political camps in France, manifesting in the question of belonging and republican self-understanding. The upcoming elections will show how these debates develop further and what place political symbols will occupy within them.
Sources
- franceinfo
- Les 4 Vérités