In its Wednesday, April 9 edition, the newspaper Libération published an investigation into the assets of French Culture Minister Rachida Dati, revealing the omission of €420,000 worth of jewelry from her declarations of interest to the High Authority for Transparency in Public Life (HATVP). Rachida Dati's June 2024 declaration lists assets exceeding €5.6 million. However, this amount does not include what Libération describes as a «small treasure» of around twenty luxury items—watches, rings, sets, necklaces, and other jewelry—each reportedly worth more than €10,000. The declaration notably omits «a Chopard watch valued at €32,000», «a Cartier bracelet worth nearly €20,000», and «a Buccellati ring estimated at €11,600». According to HATVP regulations, declarants are required to report «all movable property with an individual value exceeding €10,000». For their part, the minister's lawyers maintain that she «is fully compliant with her declarative obligations» to the authority. Quoted by French media, they stress that «the publication of information regarding the possession—whether verified or not—of jewelry» falls under «private life». The newspaper recalls that other former government members have previously been flagged by the HATVP for similar omissions, which in some cases accelerated their resignations. Separately, Rachida Dati is the subject of a judicial investigation ordered by the National Financial Prosecutor's Office (PNF) last November. The probe concerns suspicions of corruption and influence peddling, tied to €900,000 in legal fees she received while serving as a Member of the European Parliament between 2010 and 2012, for work carried out on behalf of former Renault-Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn.
