Overview

• Two Paris examining magistrates ordered Culture Minister Rachida Dati and former Renault-Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn to stand trial on corruption and influence-peddling charges.
• Dati is accused of passive influence-peddling, corruption, recel of abuse of power and abuse of trust over a 2009–2012 consultancy contract with RNBV and alleged lobbying at the European Parliament.
• Ghosn faces active corruption, abuse of corporate powers and abuse of trust charges and remains under an international arrest warrant issued in April 2023.
• President Macron and Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin have publicly affirmed Dati’s presumption of innocence and confirmed her continuation in the Culture Ministry.
• The referral intensifies coalition tensions as Dati pursues legislative by-election and Paris mayoral ambitions against Les Républicains rivals while under judicial scrutiny.