Reports on Rachida Dati scrutinized by the judicial system
In the upcoming trial set to begin on September 29, 2025, French Culture Minister Rachida Dati will stand trial in Paris on charges related to alleged corruption and influence peddling tied to secret lobbying for Renault-Nissan during her time as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from 2009 to 2019.
The core accusation is that she received approximately €900,000 in undisclosed consulting fees from a Dutch subsidiary of Renault-Nissan between 2010 and 2012, payments prosecutors claim were in exchange for providing political influence favorable to the automaker. Dati denies all allegations, asserting that she was hired legitimately as a lawyer and consultant and that the charges lack credible evidence.
The ongoing investigation specifically concerns these lobbying and corruption claims linked to the automotive group, not allegations related to undeclared jewelry or honoraria from GDF Suez. However, two reports submitted on June 18th and June 26th by Raymond Avrillier and Parisian socialist senator Rémi Féraud, respectively, have raised questions about undeclared honoraria from GDF Suez.
AFP revealed on August 1st that Rachida Dati had received 299,000 euros in "honoraria" not declared from GDF Suez in 2010-2011. The Paris prosecutor's office and the National Financial Prosecutor's Office are currently analysing these reports targeting Rachida Dati.
Another report, not specified, concerns jewelry. Asked about these accusations at the beginning of June, Rachida Dati's lawyers had stated that she had "given all her explanations" and had never been the lawyer of GDF Suez.
In a separate investigation, the Paris prosecutor's office is analysing reports concerning jewelry that Rachida Dati is suspected of not declaring, in conjunction with the High Authority for Transparency in Public Life (HATVP). This investigation did not specify a date for the submission of the report.
The allegations about undeclared honoraria from GDF Suez and jewelry are separate from the ongoing trial and investigation into corruption charges linked to Renault-Nissan. The trial will focus exclusively on alleged corruption and abuse of power related to Renault-Nissan lobbying activities during her MEP tenure.
The Paris prosecutor's office and the National Financial Prosecutor's Office are currently analysing reports targeting Rachida Dati. Olivier Pardo, one of Rachida Dati's lawyers, expressed surprise about the report concerning undeclared honoraria from GDF Suez.
In response to statements made by Rachida Dati on July 22nd on the LCI channel, she was accused of interfering with the rights of the defense and perpetuating serious attacks on these rights. The statements criticized magistrates who refused to do their job in accordance with the code of procedure.
Rachida Dati was also accused of attempting to undermine the dignity and respect due to the function of magistrates. At the beginning of May, Rachida Dati had assured that she had "nothing to regularize" in her declaration of assets.
As the trial approaches, the focus remains on the corruption charges linked to Renault-Nissan. The allegations about undeclared honoraria from GDF Suez and jewelry are separate investigations that will continue alongside the trial.
- The allegations about undeclared honoraria from GDF Suez, as revealed by AFP on August 1st, are separate from the ongoing trial and investigation into corruption charges linked to Renault-Nissan, but are currently under analysis by the Paris prosecutor's office and the National Financial Prosecutor's Office.
- The socialist senator Rémi Féraud's report raised questions about undeclared honoraria from GDF Suez, but this investigation is separate from the trial focusing on alleged corruption and abuse of power related to Renault-Nissan lobbying activities during Rachida Dati's tenure as a Member of the European Parliament.
