French Culture Minister Dati to Sue Journalist Over Undeclared Jewelry Allegations

According to Libération, Rachida Dati’s latest declaration, published by the High Authority for Transparency in Public Life (HATVP) in June 2024, shows that the minister has assets of "some 5.6 million euros in the form of real estate in France and Morocco, current accounts, life insurance or savings products". According to the article’s author, the minister failed to declare 19 pieces of jewelry, for a total amount of 420,000 euros, held since 2017. "She must regularize if it was true," government spokesperson Sophie Primas had reacted after the article’s publication.

This Wednesday, Rachida assured France Inter that she had "nothing to regularize" in her asset declaration. "I have nothing to regularize. I have never been found at fault on any declaration. So it’s not today that it’s going to start," she declared. The minister also intends to file a complaint for defamation against journalist Laurent Léger, author of this article. He is an "intimate of Anne Hidalgo. [...] I’m used to it, I’m filing a complaint," she added. The Paris mayor is her long-standing political adversary in the race for the municipality.

In case of fraudulent intent or substantial omission, the HATVP can refer Rachida Dati’s (potential) case to the courts.