In a dramatic turn of events, French Culture Minister Rachida Dati is set to face trial this September on serious allegations of corruption and abuse of power. The charges stem from accusations that she engaged in lobbying activities for the Renault-Nissan automotive group during her tenure as a member of the European Parliament. Dati has consistently denied any wrongdoing, but the looming court case casts a significant shadow over her political ambitions.
The Battle for Paris Heats Up
Simultaneously, Dati is embroiled in a fiercely contested campaign to become the next mayor of Paris, aiming to end the left's 25-year dominance of the capital. Running as the candidate for the rightwing Les Républicains party, the 60-year-old minister has positioned herself as a champion of authority and security. She has pledged a robust law and order agenda, including arming municipal police with firearms and expanding the city's CCTV network.
Policy Promises and Political Polarisation
Dati's platform extends beyond policing. She proposes to alter social housing criteria to prioritise local workers, reduce municipal debt, and fully privatise bin collection—a move she argues will free up city employees for street cleaning duties. While she has promised not to reverse the left's transformation of a Seine-side dual carriageway into a pedestrian walkway, she plans renovations and emphasises creating green spaces to combat extreme heat and flood risks.
Her opponents, however, portray her as a dangerous rightwinger. Emmanuel Grégoire, the united left's candidate from the Socialists, Greens, and Communists, has warned that a Dati victory would turn Paris into a "Trumpist laboratory." Grégoire's campaign focuses on increasing social housing, defending environmental policies like cycle lanes, and addressing air pollution.
Personal History and Public Perception
Dati's personal narrative is a cornerstone of her appeal. Growing up in a low-income housing estate as the second of eleven children to illiterate Algerian and Moroccan parents, she worked from age 14 and escaped an arranged marriage. She broke barriers as France's first justice minister of north African and Muslim heritage under Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007, describing it as shattering a "cast-iron" glass ceiling.
Yet, public opinion remains deeply divided. According to Vincent Thibault of Elabe research firm, 56% of Parisians hold a negative view of Dati, compared to 42% with a positive one. Her high name recognition is both an asset and a liability in the race.
Electoral Challenges and Alliances
The election is further complicated by smaller candidates. Sarah Knafo of the far-right Reconquest party seeks gains in wealthy western districts, though Dati has rejected alliances with a party whose founder has racist convictions. From the centre, Pierre-Yves Bournazel, a former Dati adviser now polling third, criticises her as narcissistic and advocates moving beyond traditional left-right divides.
With the left's longtime mayor Anne Hidalgo not seeking re-election, and a changed voting system potentially favouring Dati, analysts describe the outcome as too close to call. The race reflects broader national tensions, as issues like housing crises, climate resilience, and political scandal converge in one of Europe's most iconic cities.
