🇫🇷Macron to Recognise Palestine, Dati Faces Corruption Trial, and French Army Chief Steps Down
France takes a historic step on Palestine, political scandal rocks Paris, and a major change in the French armed forces - plus 50% off French Dispatch paid subscriptions this summer!
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This week
Time for a break and 50% off paid subs!
🇵🇸Macron Announces France Will Recognise Palestine
🧑⚖️Dati Referred to Criminal Court for “Corruption”
🪖Thierry Burkhard steps down as Chief of Army
Time for a break and 50% off paid subs!
Alright, my dear readers, following a long year filled with many twists and turns, it’s time for the editor of your favourite newsletter to go on holiday for a month and to take some much-needed R&R and sleep until the end of August.
A lot of sleep, since there are many elections coming up in the next year.
However, you will still see the odd post from me and a few of our contributors, just to make sure you’ve got something nice to read from time to time while you’re enjoying the beaches of god knows where.
We also have a special offer on paid subscriptions for the summer, with 50% off any paid subscription purchased between now and the end of August.
I received a lot of responses to the poll I ran a few months back, saying that many people wanted to pay to support the publication, but didn’t necessarily have the means to do so.
All you need to do is go to frenchdispatch.eu/summer2025, and you will automatically see the reduction.
Oh, and since the anniversary of the Paris 2024 opening ceremony was yesterday, here’s a reminder of the amazing performance of one of my favourite songs by Celine Dion.
Let’s crack on then, shall we?
🇵🇸Macron Announces France Will Recognise Palestine
So, let’s start the week off with some fairly historic news:
This week, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will recognise the state of Palestine in the September UN General Assembly.
“Consistent with its historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East, I have decided that France will recognise the State of Palestine.
I will make this solemn announcement before the United Nations General Assembly this coming September.
The urgent priority today is to end the war in Gaza and to bring relief to the civilian population.
Peace is possible.
We need an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, and massive humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza. We must also ensure the demilitarisation of Hamas, secure and rebuild Gaza. And finally, we must build the State of Palestine, guarantee its viability, and ensure that by accepting its demilitarisation and fully recognising Israel, it contributes to the security of all in the region.
There is no alternative.
The French people want peace in the Middle East. It is our responsibility — as French citizens, alongside Israelis, Palestinians, and our European and international partners — to prove that peace is possible.
In light of the commitments made to me by the President of the Palestinian Authority, I have written to him to express my determination to move forward.
Trust, clarity, and resolve.
We will achieve peace.”
The announcement was sent to Mahmoud Abbas, the president of Palestine and leader of the Palestinian Authority, in the below letter by the French consul in Jerusalem.
However, why has Emmanuel Macron suddenly decided to move ahead with this declaration, despite the fact that Keir Starmer’s United Kingdom and Friedrich Merz’ Germany continue to move with trepidation?
This political gesture is a response to several events.
First of all, Mahmoud Abbas sent a letter to both Emmanuel Macron and Mohammed Ben Salman on June 10, ahead of a meeting where he denounced the October 7 Massacre that was committed by the terrorist organisation Hamas, advocated for the demilitarisation of Hamas, called for the Jewish hostages to be released, and pledged reforms of the Palestinian Authority.
Aside from this, the scenes we have been seeing across Gaza have undoubtedly had a strong impact on persuading a hesitant France to take this decision. With the repeated scenes of crimes being committed by Israeli soldiers, the ongoing famine we’re seeing, and the stories being shared by journalists on the ground, it became impossible for the French Republic to just stand and watch.
There have also been growing concerns about the prolonged and devastating war that has now been continuing for almost two full years.
Despite the fact that the Israeli forces have effectively decapitated Hamas’ leadership, with major collateral damage, and despite the military victories that have been won, there doesn’t seem to be any end in sight to the conflict, the current war, or any signs of some kind of peace.
If you'd like a deeper dive into the current discussions surrounding this topic and its impact, please comment below.
🧑⚖️Dati Referred to Criminal Court for “Corruption”
So the week started off quite strongly for Culture Minister Rachida Dati, who was referred to the Paris Criminal Court this Monday, 23 July, for “corruption” and “influence peddling” alongside former Renault-Nissan boss, Carlos Ghosn.
Yes, the guy who escaped Japan in a crate and currently lives as a fugitive.
At the core of this case is an investigation launched in 2019 regarding alleged corruption and abuse of power linked to lobbying performed on behalf of Renault-Nissan, by Rachida Dati while she was an MEP between 2009 and 2019.
Rachida Dati, who hopes to run to become Paris mayor next year, is accused of accepting €900,000 in lawyers’ fees between 2010 and 2012 from a subsidiary of Renault-Nissan in the Netherlands.
And with the news that she’s being referred to the courts, Dati naturally took this as well as any politician being put before the courts, appearing on LCI to denounce a “[legal] proceedings marred by incidents” and attacking the magistrates involved in the case, who she claims are “stepping on the rights of the defendants.”
Dati even went as far as to “condemn [the] magistrates who refuse to do their job according to the code of procedure” while denouncing a “shameful exploitation” of the investigation.
“I ask for documents, they refuse to give them to me. I ask for confrontations, they refuse to grant them. The entire proceedings have been marred by incidents... There is a problem with the justice system .... I will not give up. They are trying to bring me to my knees, but I will not give in.”
- Rachida Dati speaking on LCI on Tuesday 22 July
While the first hearing is scheduled for September 29th, and will set the trial's starting date, there is a good chance that any trial will not happen until after the Paris municipal elections in March 2026.
But what impact could this have on the current snap election in the 2nd constituency of Paris and Dati’s duel with former Prime Minister Michel Barnier?
According to a poll run by Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance party, which was obtained by Le Parisien and is a part of the party’s decision-making process regarding who to support in the snap election, it’s looking like the current investigation has had little impact so far.
The Minister of Culture, Dati, is polling at 33% in the first round, ahead of Michel Barnier (30%) and the far-right Thierry Mariani (28%). Michel Barnier doesn’t currently poll much better in the second round, either, with Dati polling at 52% against Barnier’s 48%.
But it’s not a knockout quite yet for Rachida Dati, who is far from the favourite, and who is well within range for a seasoned politician like Michel Barnier, especially if a corruption case is on the way.
and this will all play into the decision that Gabriel Attal and the Renaissance bureau will need to make: do they take a risk and support Rachida Dati, despite the potential for a corruption scandal over their heads?
Or do they go for another candidate who, while not likely to win, could be found to show a little more adherence to the core values of the party. One such candidate would be Minister Delegate in charge of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Affairs, Clara Chappaz, who has signalled that she would be happy to throw her name forward.
But hell, it’s even possible that Les Républicains choose to not even endorse Barnier, pull back, and go for Dati instead, which leads to an even more interesting situation.
But, as I always say, polls are temporary, and are never an ironclad view of the future.
🪖Thierry Burkhard Steps Down as Chief of Army
As some of you may remember, General Thierry Burkhard, Chief of Staff of the French Armed Forces, announced that France was considered the first enemy of the Russian Federation, currently engaged in a genocidal invasion of Ukraine.
For a reminder of what was said, click the link below:
🇫🇷France is Russia’s “First Enemy in Europe”, Warns Military Chief in Rare Briefing
General Thierry Burkhard warns of a “lasting, close and dimensional threat” as France prepares to counter hybrid warfare theatres, with President Macron set to outline next defence steps
However, after four years in the position, and after an extension that was granted last year, General Burkhard will be ending his time as the Chief of Staff of the French Armed Forces, with Air Force General Fabien Mandon being appointed to the position.
In a statement announcing the change, Minister of the Armed forces, Sébastian Lecornu, thanked General Burkhard for his leadership and clear strategic vision:
“Recognition and thanks to Army General Thierry Burkhard, who served France at the highest level for four years as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces.
His leadership was marked by a clear strategic vision of threats and a constant commitment to adapting our armed forces to meet them.
By decision of the President of the Republic, Air Force General Fabien Mandon will succeed him.
Full confidence in his ability to continue, with rigor and determination, the transformation of our forces in an increasingly demanding security context.”
He will be inheriting a French military in a precarious situation, with geopolitical tensions combining with a need to rethink the French military structures and goals, all while figuring out what to do with the new wave of funding being sent its way.
However, some would argue that this is actually a great situation for a military looking for a renewed purpose.
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