French police raided the home of Culture Minister Rachida Dati on December 18 as part of an ongoing corruption investigation involving her past consultancy work for the Renault-Nissan alliance. The probe focuses on whether the €900,000 she received between 2010 and 2012 constituted “hidden lobbying” during her time as a Member of the European Parliament. Dati has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that the payments were for legitimate legal services. This high-profile search adds significant political pressure to the current government as it navigates multiple legal challenges involving high-ranking officials.
Date: December 18, 2025. Source: lemonde.fr