Rachida Dati singled out over 420,000 euros’ worth of undeclared jewelry

Already indicted for “corruption” in the Carlos Ghosn case, named after the former CEO of Renault, Rachida Dati allegedly failed to declare to the HATVP watches, bracelets, necklaces, rings and other luxury jewelry worth 420,000 euros, according to an investigation by Libération. In June 2024, the mayor of Paris’s VIIᵉ arrondissement and Culture Minister had a substantial fortune of 5.6 million euros, in the form of real estate in France and Morocco, current accounts, life insurance policies and savings products.

“Libération’s lengthy investigation uncovered traces of a small treasure likely to further increase this already substantial capital,” it states, indicating that Bayrou government member failed to declare nineteen luxury items, including Chopard and Cartier watches worth 32,000 and 29,000 euros respectively, a Bulgari bracelet worth 28,900 euros, an Akoya pearl necklace costing 12,750 euros, earrings worth 11,000 euros, platinum and diamond rings costing 68,500 euros, etc.

To read: Why is Rachida Dati going to Morocco?

Under the regulations in force, items worth more than 10,000 euros must be declared to the HATPV. Yet none of these luxury jewelry items appears in Rachida Dati’s two asset declarations, filed on March 7 and June 17, 2024, the French media outlet reports, emphasizing that the total value of the luxury jewelry owned by the French minister of Moroccan origin exceeds 500,000 euros if her more “modest” jewelry is taken into account.

According to the same source, Rachida Dati allegedly received this jewelry as gifts between 2017 and 2023 from her partner Henri Proglio, former CEO of Veolia and EDF, “a businessman who remains influential in political and economic circles and has powerful networks.” According to the minister’s three lawyers, she “is fully compliant with her disclosure obligations to the HATVP.” In their view, “the publication of information relating to the possession, whether established or not, of jewelry” falls within “private life.”