French prosecutors stated on Tuesday that they had launched a probe following stories that Rachida Dati, the outgoing tradition minister who’s campaigning to change into the mayor of Paris subsequent yr, didn’t declare luxurious jewelry.
Dati has served as tradition minister since January 2024.
In April, French day by day Libération reported that Dati had not declared jewelry and watches price €420,000 upon taking ministerial workplace.
In a remark to AFP, the general public prosecutor’s workplace stated an investigation had been launched “following stories alleging the potential offence of failure to declare jewelry.”
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Dati, 59, is a high-profile political determine and mayor of the French capital’s stylish seventh district who holds ambitions to change into the mayor of Paris subsequent yr.
She has dismissed the report.
“I’ve by no means been discovered to be at fault in any declaration. So it is not going to start out right this moment,” she stated in May.
She added that she supposed to file a criticism of her personal for defamation.
Citing Dati’s asset declaration from 2024, Libération reported that the politician declared wealth of some €5.6 million in actual property, financial savings and life insurance coverage. There was no point out of jewelry.
The High Authority for Transparency in Public Office (HATVP) can take authorized motion if it detects fraudulent intent or a considerable omission.
In a separate case, Dati is to go on trial accused of corruption and abuse of energy. She was positioned underneath investigation in 2019 on suspicion she lobbied for the Renault-Nissan automobile group when she was a member of the European parliament.
She denies the allegations.
France is ready for the lineup of the brand new cupboard to be introduced after President Emmanuel Macron final week named his shut ally Sebastien Lecornu as the brand new prime minister to resolve a deepening political disaster.
