French police recently conducted extensive raids on the home and offices of Culture Minister Rachida Dati, marking a significant escalation in a long-running corruption investigation. The probe, led by the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (PNF), focuses on allegations stemming from her tenure as a Member of the European Parliament. This development casts a considerable shadow over a prominent figure in President Emmanuel Macron’s administration, who is also a leading contender for the 2026 Paris mayoral election.

Central to the investigation are accusations that Ms. Dati, while serving as an MEP between 2010 and 2011 for the right-wing Republicans party, accepted nearly €300,000 (approximately £263,000) in undeclared payments. These funds allegedly originated from the energy giant GDF Suez, now known as Engie. The PNF’s inquiry encompasses a range of serious charges, including active and passive corruption, influence peddling, embezzlement of public funds, and subsequent concealment and money laundering. These allegations first surfaced over a decade ago, prompting a preliminary investigation that has now advanced to this stage.

The timing of these raids carries considerable political weight, coinciding with Ms. Dati’s active pursuit of the Paris mayoralty. As a key ally of President Macron, her political ambitions to succeed Socialist Anne Hidalgo in the capital are now inextricably linked with these escalating legal challenges. Her high-profile position within the government and her clear mayoral aspirations lend a heightened sense of scrutiny to the ongoing judicial process, potentially impacting her political trajectory.

Throughout the decade since the initial claims emerged, Ms. Dati has consistently denied any wrongdoing regarding her activities while an MEP. Following the recent police actions, neither Ms. Dati nor her legal representatives provided immediate public comment, leaving official responses to government spokespersons. This silence from her camp contrasts with the swift affirmations of support from within the Macron administration.

Despite the severity of the allegations and the active police investigation, the French government has publicly affirmed its backing for Ms. Dati. Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon stated that Ms. Dati “has every right to be in government” and reiterated the principle of presumption of innocence. President Macron himself, earlier in the year, described Ms. Dati as “unsinkable” in the face of previous legal challenges, underscoring the robust political support she continues to receive from the Élysée Palace.

This probe is not an isolated incident in Ms. Dati’s political and legal career. In a separate and equally significant legal development, French judges in July ordered Ms. Dati and former automobile executive Carlos Ghosn to stand trial. That distinct case revolves around alleged corruption and abuse of power concerning consulting fees received during her time as a lawyer. Ms. Dati has similarly denied any irregularities in the fees, while Mr. Ghosn, who famously fled Japan in late 2019 to avoid trial there, has also rejected all misconduct allegations against him.

As the 2026 Paris mayoral campaign looms larger, Ms. Dati faces the formidable task of navigating these complex legal battles while striving to maintain her political momentum. She has previously demonstrated strong electoral appeal, leading some polls and positioning herself as a robust challenger to the left-wing options. An IPSOS poll for Le Parisien, for instance, placed her at 27 percent in the first round of hypothetical voting, seven points ahead of Socialist Party candidate Emmanuel Grégoire, indicating her significant electoral potential despite the controversies.

The ongoing investigations into a high-profile minister underscore France’s commitment to addressing financial impropriety and upholding integrity within its political class. While the principle of presumption of innocence remains paramount for Ms. Dati, such probes inevitably raise crucial questions about public trust and the ethical standards of political institutions. The judicial process will now meticulously determine the veracity of the serious accusations levelled against the Culture Minister, with significant implications for her career and French politics.

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Keywords: Rachida Dati, French Culture Minister, corruption probe France, European Parliament allegations, GDF Suez payments, Paris mayoral election 2026, Emmanuel Macron ally, Carlos Ghosn trial