Rachida Dati and Carlos Ghosn are currently on trial at the Paris correctional court for alleged corruption and influence peddling. The trial, which has recently begun, centers around accusations that Dati, a former French minister and current mayor of Paris’s 7th arrondissement, received 900,000 euros between 2009 and 2013 for advisory services provided to a subsidiary of the Renault-Nissan automotive group. Prosecutors argue that this payment masked lobbying efforts on Renault’s behalf within the European Parliament, which is illegal under EU law. Dati, who was a lawyer and member of the European Parliament at the time, has denied the charges, stating that the work involved international advisory missions and that she was practicing her legal profession under the contract. Carlos Ghosn, the former CEO of Renault-Nissan, is also on trial but has asked the court to dismiss the proceedings. He claims he was not properly notified of the trial and wants to participate via videoconference from Beirut, where he has been living in exile since 2019. Ghosn is subject to a French arrest warrant and has been requesting to be heard for six years, arguing that he has not yet had the chance to explain his side of the story. The court is reviewing his request, which is not intended to delay the trial but to allow his involvement. If found guilty, both Dati and Ghosn could face up to ten years in prison and a fine of 450,000 euros for complicity. However, the law in effect at the time of the alleged offenses was less severe than current legislation, which could impose a fine of up to one million euros. For Dati, the most serious consequence would be a five-year ban on holding public office, which would impact her role as mayor of the 7th arrondissement. This ineligibility could be imposed immediately, even if she appeals, as was the case with former National Rally leader Marine Le Pen. Ghosn, however, would not face imprisonment if convicted, as Lebanon does not extradite its citizens. The trial has drawn significant attention due to the high-profile nature of both defendants and the potential implications for French politics and legal proceedings. The court’s decisions on Ghosn’s participation and the application of penalties could set important precedents in how such cases are handled in France.