Rachida Dati to Resign from Government Ahead of 2025 Municipal Elections

On January 18, 2026, Rachida Dati, French Minister of Culture and the Les Républicains (LR) candidate for the Paris mayoral election, announced she will resign from the government before the municipal elections scheduled for March 15 and 22, 2025. While she confirmed her intention to step down, Dati did not specify an exact resignation date during her appearance on the political program "Questions politiques." She acknowledged the wishes of some cultural stakeholders for her to continue defending their budget until her departure. Dati currently holds the position of mayor of Paris's 7th arrondissement alongside her ministerial role. This resignation plan underscores a strategic move as she prepares for her campaign in the upcoming municipal elections, signaling a shift from her governmental responsibilities to focus on local political ambitions.