[REVISION HISTORY]

Rachida Dati corruption trial and judicial reintegration

6 recorded revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-21 20:33 UTC → 2026-10-13 14:14 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In early September 2026, former French Minister of Justice Rachida Dati requested reintegration into the judiciary, specifically seeking an administrative role as a mission officer for the Delegation for European and International Affairs. This request preceded her scheduled corruption trial. On September 16, 2026, the trial commenced in Paris involving Dati and former Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn. Dati faces charges of passive corruption, passive influence-peddling, and concealment of abuse of power related to approximately 900,000 euros in fees paid by RNBV, the Dutch holding company for the Renault-Nissan alliance, between 2009 and 2013. Prosecutors contend these payments were disguised annual legal fees intended to mask illegal lobbying activities during her tenure as a Member of the European Parliament. ~~Investigators have noted a lack of documentation to substantiate the legal services provided, suggesting the remuneration was disproportionate to the work performed.~~ Dati denies these allegations, maintaining she acted exclusively as a lawyer providing legitimate services, with her defense characterizing the prosecution’s case as an “intellectual construct.” Carlos Ghosn, who resides in Lebanon, is being prosecuted for active corruption and influence-peddling. Although Ghosn requested to postpone the ~~proceedings based on procedural arguments regarding his summons,~~ proceedings, the tribunal rejected the ~~request. Ghosn expressed a willingness to testify via videoconference, and the court decided~~ request, opting to proceed with ~~the trial using that method.~~ his testimony via videoconference. During ~~a five-hour hearing~~ testimony on September ~~17, 2026, Dati faced questioning regarding her professional activities in Brussels and her career trajectory. On September~~ 21, 2026, Dati continued to deny all allegations, ~~testifying that~~ stating she strictly separated her legal practice from her political ~~mandate. She~~ mandate and cited attorney-client privilege regarding her failure to ~~explain why she did not~~ disclose Renault-Nissan as a client to the European Parliament. On October 13, 2026, the High Council of the Judiciary (Conseil supérieur de la magistrature) issued an unfavorable opinion regarding Dati’s reintegration. The Council cited her ongoing criminal proceedings as an obstacle to performing duties representing the judicial institution. A decision from the Paris criminal court is expected on January 21.

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