OREANDA-NEWS  France's Minister of Culture and candidate for the mayor of Paris, Rachida Dati, will appear in court on corruption charges, Agence France-Presse reported, citing a judicial source.

"On Tuesday, July 22, Paris investigating judges ordered that the cases of Culture Minister Rashida Dati and former Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn be transferred to the criminal court on charges of corruption and influence peddling," the media reported.

The investigation against 59-year-old Dati has been ongoing since 2021. She is accused of corruption and influence peddling. The French Financial Prosecutor's Office believes that in 2009-2011 she received 900,000 euros from Renault, whose interests she lobbied for as a member of the European Parliament (2009-2019).

Dati, who is close to Macron, is considered one of the key figures in the government of Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, and she has also repeatedly stated her intention to run for mayor of Paris in the municipal elections in 2026.
Dati denies all the accusations against him. Despite her status as a defendant, she will remain in the cabinet, a source at the Elysee Palace told the agency.

"The President of the Republic has taken note of the decision to transfer Rashida Dati's case to the criminal court. Since the transfer of the case is not a guilty verdict, she continues her work in the government," the president's entourage said.

The first hearing is scheduled for September 29, and the date of the court sessions is to be determined. According to a media source, they may be appointed for the period after the elections in March 2026.
Earlier, the court rejected Dati's request to close the case against her.