Rachida Dati, the French Minister of Culture and Mayor of the 7th arrondissement of Paris, is facing charges of corruption, passive trafficking of influence, misuse of power, and breach of trust. She is submitting another appeal on May 7th to the chamber of the Court of Appeal in Paris in an effort to have the charges dropped. Her lawyers argue that the statute of limitations in the case has expired since 2015, as they claim her work as a lawyer for Renault-Nissan BV between 2010 and 2012 was not hidden and was known to the company’s leadership. Dati’s legal team is basing their appeal on the discovery of new evidence that they claim proves key figures within Renault, Nissan, and the Renault-Nissan alliance were fully aware of Dati’s role and the services she provided, including the amount of fees she received.
The case revolves around the substantial fees paid to Dati by RNBV (900,000 euros excluding taxes for allegedly 900 hours of work) between 2010 and 2012. At that time, Dati was a Member of the European Parliament, serving as a substitute member of the Industry, Research, and Energy Commission, with lobbying activities prohibited within the European Parliament. However, there is little documentation to support the services Dati allegedly provided, with the lack of detailed reports on her activities, expense reports for potential foreign travel, limited meetings between Dati and the company’s leadership, and a lack of detailed invoices or a written termination of her services by RNBV. An audit conducted in 2019 on RNBV’s management further highlights the absence of evidence to justify the payments made to Dati.
Despite a previous request to declare the statute of limitations expired being denied by the Court of Appeal in December 2021, Dati’s legal team remains confident in their new appeal based on the additional evidence obtained. The refusal to provide detailed documentation of her work and the lack of clear evidence of the services provided have raised questions about the legitimacy of the payments made to Dati by RNBV. The ongoing legal battle is crucial for Dati as she seeks to avoid standing trial for the charges brought against her, which could have serious implications for her political career and public image. The decision of the Court of Appeal will determine the next steps in the legal proceedings and the fate of Dati in this high-profile case.
The controversy surrounding Rachida Dati’s involvement in the Renault-Nissan alliance’s affairs, particularly her alleged lobbying activities while serving as a Member of the European Parliament, has sparked widespread scrutiny and criticism. The lack of concrete evidence supporting the services she purportedly provided and the substantial fees she received have raised suspicions of corruption and misuse of power. Dati’s legal battle to have the charges against her dropped highlights the complexity and high stakes of the case, as she faces the possibility of serious consequences if found guilty. The outcome of the appeal will have significant implications not only for Dati but also for the broader political landscape and public perception of integrity and accountability in government officials.
