Rachida Dati will return to the judiciary at her own request, just days before her trial in Paris on corruption charges. The 60-year-old former Minister of Justice has requested her reinstatement, a move that still requires the approval of the High Council of the Judiciary (CSM). She is expected to be assigned as "first deputy prosecutor at the central administration of the justice system," according to information from Le Nouvel Obs confirmed by the Ministry of Justice.
The Ministry of Justice clarified that the appointment will be made in accordance with the standard transparency procedure applicable to judges. The High Council of the Judiciary (CSM) is expected to issue its opinion in the coming weeks, after reviewing any appeals concerning the position. Public prosecutors are appointed by the Minister of Justice after receiving the opinion of the CSM, an opinion the Minister has pledged to follow in this case.
A reinstatement just days before a highly anticipated trial
Rachida Dati is due to appear before the Paris Criminal Court from September 16 to 28 on charges including passive corruption and influence peddling. She is accused of entering into an alleged corruption pact and illegally lobbying the European Parliament on behalf of Renault and its former CEO, Carlos Ghosn. Between 2009 and 2013, she received €900,000 under a fixed-fee agreement with lawyers. She denies the accusations and maintains that her work as a lawyer was perfectly legal.
This decision has raised questions within the legal community. Ludovic Friat, president of the Union of Magistrates, told AFP that this reinstatement sent a "contradictory message," given that the judiciary is regularly challenged on issues of ethics and judicial accountability. Rachida Dati is also involved in several other proceedings, notably concerning possible conflicts of interest with Azerbaijan and Qatar during her time as a Member of the European Parliament, as well as an investigation into the declaration of certain jewelry items to the High Authority for Transparency in Public Life.
