France’s Culture Minister Rachida Dati, a prominent political figure with ambitions to run for Paris mayor next year, is set to stand trial on charges of corruption and abuse of power linked to her tenure as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP). The decision marks a dramatic turn in the career of one of France’s most visible ministers and throws a spotlight on the intersection of politics, law, and corporate lobbying in Europe.
According to judicial sources, Dati, 59, is accused of accepting nearly €900,000 ($1 million) in lawyer’s fees between 2010 and 2012 from a Netherlands-based subsidiary of the Renault-Nissan group. Investigators allege that she performed little to no legal work in exchange for the payments and instead engaged in lobbying for the carmaker — an activity deemed incompatible with both her parliamentary mandate and her legal profession.
From Assisted Witness to Defendant
Initially placed under the status of assisted witness in 2019, Dati was formally charged in 2021. Since then, she has fought vigorously to have the charges dismissed, insisting on her innocence. Her lawyers, Olivier Baratelli and Olivier Pardo, confirmed Tuesday that they will appeal the court’s referral decision, reiterating that the minister has been unfairly targeted.
Investigating magistrates, however, concluded in their order that Dati’s parliamentary activities “amount to lobbying,” underscoring their incompatibility with her role as an MEP from 2009 to 2019.
A Defiant Response
Dati, the daughter of working-class North African immigrants and a long-standing figure in French politics, remained defiant. Speaking on Monday, just before the court’s announcement, she framed the case as a politically motivated attack tied to her mayoral ambitions.
“I will lead you to victory,” she told supporters. “Some people are trying to attack me over my private life, over many aspects that are collateral to my candidacy. I am not afraid of anything or anyone.”
Currently serving as mayor of Paris’s 7th arrondissement — home to the National Assembly, ministries, and numerous embassies — Dati has long harbored ambitions to ascend to higher office. She previously served as justice minister under then-president Nicolas Sarkozy from 2007 to 2009.
Macron’s Balancing Act
Despite the looming trial, President Emmanuel Macron has decided to keep Dati in her ministerial role. An aide to the president, speaking anonymously, stressed that “a referral is not a conviction,” adding that Dati will continue her work as culture minister. The decision underscores Macron’s delicate political balancing act as he faces municipal elections in Paris next spring, where Dati is expected to be a high-profile candidate.
Carlos Ghosn Also Referred for Trial
The case has ensnared another controversial figure: former Renault-Nissan chairman Carlos Ghosn. The 71-year-old businessman, who fled Japan in 2019 after being arrested on charges of financial misconduct, has also been referred for trial in France. Ghosn, currently residing in Lebanon, has denied wrongdoing and remains outside the reach of Japanese and French authorities despite ongoing extradition efforts.
A hearing scheduled for September 29 will determine the trial date, which sources suggest could be held after the Paris municipal elections in March 2026.
High Stakes for French Politics
Dati’s trial represents a major test for France’s political and judicial systems. For her supporters, she is the victim of a politically charged investigation aimed at derailing her mayoral ambitions. For her critics, the case symbolizes the troubling overlap of corporate influence and public office within European institutions.
Jean-Pierre Lecoq, mayor of Paris’s 6th district and a close ally of Dati, voiced confidence in her resilience: “She will go until the end.”
As the trial looms, Dati’s fate remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: her legal troubles could reshape both the Paris mayoral race and the broader landscape of French politics.
By FCCT Editorial Team
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