French investigative judges have ordered that Culture Minister Rachida Dati and former Renault‑Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn face criminal charges, including passive corruption, influence peddling, abuse of power, and breach of trust, over payments totaling approximately €900,000 made between 2010 and 2012 by the Renault‑Nissan alliance for consultancy services allegedly never performed. (Le Monde.fr, Reuters))
On television (LCI), Dati emphatically denied any corrupt arrangements with Ghosn, insisting the fees were legitimate legal services related to Renault‑Nissan’s strategic interests in the Middle East and North Africa. She criticized the legal process as “filled with irregularities,” including denied requests for evidentiary acts and confrontations, and affirmed: “Je ne renoncerai sur rien” (“I will not give up on anything”). She also rejected calls to resign and announced plans to continue her government duties and political ambitions in Paris. (TF1 INFO, BFMTV))
A preliminary hearing is set for 29 September 2025, likely postponing the full trial until after the March 2026 municipal elections. The anti-corruption NGO Anticor has stated its intention to join the case as a civil party, representing civic interests in this high‑profile judicial proceeding.(Anticor))
22 juillet 2025