How has Rachida
Dati, a prominent figure from the Sarkozy era and a diversity icon of the
2000s, managed to remain essential to French political life? For several
months, journalists investigated the Minister of Culture — her successes, her
failures, and her legal troubles.
What does “Complément
d’enquête” reveal about possible ties between Dati and GDF Suez?
In
the episode aired on Thursday, June 5 at 11 p.m., France 2 retraces the career
of the Minister of Culture and delves into potential conflicts of interest
involving the French energy giant.
“You’re
pissing me off, I don’t speak with thugs…” — this, essentially, was the only
exchange between Rachida Dati and the Complément d’enquête journalist
behind the profile aired in the late evening on June 5.
Titled “Rachida Dati: The Relentless Climb”,
the 58-minute documentary focuses largely on a well-known chapter of the former
Justice Minister’s story: the political rise of a young woman from a family of
11 children, raised in public housing in Chalon-sur-Saône, who would go on to
become the first Minister of Justice from an immigrant background to occupy
Place Vendôme.
Described in the film’s narration as a “political artist,”
Dati is praised by figures such as former Senator Pierre Charon and former
Areva president Anne Lauvergeon. But the final third of the documentary
addresses a new and serious allegation: did Rachida Dati receive payments from
GDF Suez to promote the gas industry’s interests in the European Parliament,
where she served as an MEP for ten years (2009–2019)?
Her portrait — as admired by the right-wing electorate as she
is feared by her political rivals — is far from flattering. Former Health
Minister Agnès Buzyn recounts her own clashes with Dati during the 2020 Paris
mayoral campaign. Speaking on camera, Buzyn says that after refusing an
alliance, Dati — then mayor of Paris’s 7th arrondissement — changed her
attitude and adopted a “violent tone” in text message exchanges. Dati allegedly
warned her she would “unleash the dogs” and “destroy [her] campaign.”
No Charges Filed to Date
The Complément d’enquête team revisits several legal
matters linked to Dati’s career. Among them: her indictment for passive
corruption and influence peddling in favor of Renault-Nissan. However, the most
striking revelation — brought to light in collaboration with Le
Nouvel Obs — involves suspicions of conflict of interest with GDF
Suez dating to the mid-2010s.
“She was never a rapporteur on anything related to energy,”
questions former Minister and MEP Corinne Lepage. “That alone points to a new
interest in the subject. Why, all of a sudden in 2012, does she ‘discover’
energy? Her strong bias in favor of the gas industry raises serious questions.”
Even more troubling, the journalists unveil accounting records
that they believe suggest a financial link between Dati and the energy firm.
These documents reportedly come from the law firm STC, co-founded by Xavier de
Sarrau, described as close to former President Nicolas Sarkozy.
The documents show that GDF Suez made two gross payments of
€149,500 to the law firm in July 2010 and February 2011. These sums were
allegedly forwarded by check to Rachida Dati in October 2010 and February 2011
respectively, each labeled “Dati fee GDF Suez.”
The Complément d’enquête and Nouvel Obs
teams also reference a spiral notebook seized from the office of Dati’s
assistant at the 7th arrondissement town hall. In it, handwritten notes read
“GDF 250” next to “Renault 300.” According to the reporters, this is evidence
that “250” refers to €250,000 excluding VAT — allegedly paid to Dati in two installments
in 2010.
These findings appear to align with invoices seized by
investigators during a 2019 search of the 7th arrondissement’s town hall (where
Dati has served as mayor since 2008). As of today, no charges have been filed
against the current Minister of Culture regarding the GDF Suez affair.
SAISI
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