ON
← Back to feed
"Renault was my first client, I complied with his request": at her trial, Rachida Dati asserts her truth
France🏛️ PoliticsCenter

"Renault was my first client, I complied with his request": at her trial, Rachida Dati asserts her truth

On September 16, 2026, Rachida Dati appeared at her trial in Paris, where she faces charges related to her alleged involvement in secret missions for former Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn between 2009 and 2012. During the second day of hearings, Dati took the stand, describing herself as having worked discreetly but at the highest level for Ghosn, allegedly acting as a 'Mata Hari' figure in dealings with Morocco, Algeria, Turkey, and Iran. She claimed these countries had 'difficulties' for Renault. The court has three judges overseeing the case, and Dati aims to convince them of her innocence by detailing her role in these covert operations.

Rachida Dati took the stand at her trial in Paris on Thursday, September 17, 2026, testifying about her work with former Renault boss Carlos Ghosn. She stated, “Renault was my first client, I complied with his request,” during her testimony. Dressed plainly in black pants, flat shoes, and a jacket, she appeared subdued compared to her past high-profile appearances. The courtroom was sparsely filled, with three judges overseeing the proceedings. Dati claimed she performed secret tasks for Ghosn, who led Renault from 2009 to 2012, involving countries such as Morocco, Algeria, Turkey, and Iran, which she described as having “difficulties” for the automaker. During questioning, Dati denied engaging in lobbying activities on behalf of Renault while serving as an elected European official. She explained that she did not keep records of her work as an “advocate” because she followed “Ghosn’s wishes.” Judges repeatedly asked her to speak louder and more slowly, struggling to hear her over the courtroom’s acoustics. Mediapart reported that Dati’s defense had previously attempted to exclude civil parties from the case without success. As the trial continues, the focus remains on whether her actions constituted illegal influence peddling.

How this report was made. Objective News wrote this report from 2 source articles, using AI-assisted synthesis under our methodology. It is our own text, not a copy of any single outlet. Read our methodology.

Responsible editor: Matej BašaSpotted an error? Report it

2 reports

Marianne logoMarianneIndependentCenterFactual 85Objective 70
"Renault was my first client, I complied with his request": at her trial, Rachida Dati asserts her truth

On September 16, 2026, Rachida Dati appeared at her trial in Paris, where she faces charges related to her alleged involvement in secret missions for former Renault CEO Carlos Ghosn between 2009 and 2012. During the second day of hearings, Dati took the stand, describing herself as having worked discreetly but at the highest level for Ghosn, allegedly acting as a 'Mata Hari' figure in dealings with Morocco, Algeria, Turkey, and Iran. She claimed these countries had 'difficulties' for Renault. The court has three judges overseeing the case, and Dati aims to convince them of her innocence by detailing her role in these covert operations.

Bias read (Center): The article presents Rachida Dati’s testimony without overtly favoring either side. It reports her claims neutrally, focusing on her allegations rather than taking a clear stance on their validity. While the subject involves high-profile individuals and potential corruption, the framing remains fact

Why factuality (85): The article reports on Rachida Dati’s testimony during her trial, citing her statements about working for Carlos Ghosn at Renault. It provides details from the courtroom proceedings and describes her appearance and demeanor. While no primary source is available, the information aligns with the cross

Why objectivity (70): The article has a somewhat subjective tone, describing Dati’s voice as 'fluette, almost deaf' and her appearance as 'modest,' which may reflect a biased portrayal. The language used to describe her actions and demeanor suggests a certain level of judgment, rather than purely reporting facts.

Mediapart logoMediapartIndependent🔒CenterFactual: no official source document/info detectedObjective 75
Process Data: Why do you not keep records which would enable you to justify your work ?

Rachida Dati, during her first day of testimony in the 'Dati affair' trial, denied any involvement in lobbying activities on behalf of Renault while serving as a European Union member. She explained that she did not keep records of her work as an 'advocate' because she was following the wishes of Carlos Ghosn. On the second day of the trial, Dati struggled with speaking clearly, leading to difficulties in being understood by the court, prompting the court clerk and presiding judge to intervene repeatedly.

Bias read (Center): The article presents factual information regarding Dati's legal proceedings and does not overtly favor one political side over another. It reports on the legal implications of her actions without taking a clear ideological stance. The framing remains neutral, focusing on the procedural aspects of a讼

Why factuality: no official source document/info detected

Why objectivity (75): The article maintains a more neutral tone compared to the first, focusing primarily on the legal questions raised during the trial. However, it still uses slightly emotive language such as 'peine à entendre' which could imply some bias, though less pronounced than in the previous article.

How each side covered it

The same event, grouped by the political lean of the outlets covering it.

How each side covered it

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Covered around the world

The same event as reported in other countries.

Covered around the world

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Claims check

Key factual claims, and how many sources assert vs dispute each.

Claims check

Support independent, bias-aware news and unlock the social pulse, community voting, and every other Supporter feature.

Become a Supporter

Keep the news honest.

ObjectiveNews is reader-funded and ad-free — we show you the bias instead of hiding it. Support independent journalism for €4/month.

Become a Supporter

Related stories