Rachida Dati resigns as culture minister to focus on Paris election

Just three weeks ahead of the municipal elections in France, Culture Minister Rachida Dati has announced her resignation to President Emmanuel Macron. Speaking on BFM TV this Wednesday, she confirmed her departure, stating her intention to focus on the upcoming election in Paris.

Pressured to step down by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, Dati expressed, «I am very happy to have served at the Ministry of Culture, but the fight of my life is Paris». In a statement from her team, she reviewed her tenure, emphasizing «the enhancement of culture in rural areas and the preservation of heritage», alongside the reform of public broadcasting.

Throughout her time in government, Rachida Dati has weathered several cabinet reshuffles since January 2024, despite facing corruption allegations. In 2025, she was notably scrutinized for allegedly failing to disclose multiple valuable pieces of jewelry to the High Authority for Transparency (HATVP).

The investigation centered on an undeclared segment of her assets, including nineteen pieces of jewelry valued at 420,000 euros, which she has possessed since 2017.