Overview

• On July 22, investigating judges sent Culture Minister Rachida Dati and former Renault-Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn to trial on corruption and influence-peddling charges linked to undeclared lobbying fees.
• François Bayrou publicly warned that respect for the judiciary is a “duty of state” after Dati launched a fierce attack on magistrates handling her case.
• During a July 24 visit to Avignon, Dati described youth curfews as provisional measures and championed expanding cultural access in disadvantaged neighborhoods.
• Demonstrators at the Festival d’Avignon chanted “Dati démission,” highlighting growing public calls for her resignation over the unfolding scandal.
• Dati is awaiting a September court date while attempting to sustain her cultural outreach initiatives under intensifying political and public scrutiny.