Former French Minister Dati Under Investigation for Lucrative Renault Contract

Fabrice Lhomme, journalist at "Le Monde", one of the investigators, returns to the gray areas. "The police, mandated by three investigating judges, are looking for documents that would attest to the work for which Ms. Dati was significantly remunerated." "There is therefore a doubt about the reality of the services rendered," indicates the journalist.

Second concern: Rachida Dati’s status at the signing of the contract (2009), the former Keeper of the Seals had just been elected as a Member of the European Parliament. "We see her intervening in favor of Renault but more as a lobbyist than as a lawyer or consultant," continues Fabrice Lhomme. Yet, "this lobbying work is prohibited for any parliamentarian," he points out.

"We obtained an email where a collaborator of Carlos Ghosn (CEO of the Renault-Nissan group at the time of the facts) wonders and asks how we are going to pay Rachida Dati?’", reports Fabrice Lhomme. Because at the time, she was not a lawyer. "We can clearly see that it was done in an opaque and abnormal way," the journalist suspects.

Finally, the importance of the sums paid to Rachida Dati, who was demanding a remuneration of 1,000 euros per hour. According to the journalist from Le Monde, we observe "a contrast between the importance of the sums that are paid and the weakness of the apparent benefits".

All these elements lead the judges to suspect: a job of convenience, influence peddling and passive corruption. They are waiting to hear Rachida Dati.

Her hearing is now "mandatory" according to Fabrice Lhomme, who continues: "There are many elements that implicate her and she must be able to defend herself." "This judicial appointment will necessarily take place within a more or less short deadline," concludes Fabrice Lhomme.