Rachida Dati – French Politician

As a member of the European Parliament, Rachida Dati represents Île-de-France. Before she was elected into parliament, she was a part of the cabinet post of Keeper of the Seals, as well as, the Minister of Justice.

In the French presidential election of 2007, she was one of the spokespersons for Nicolas Sarkozy. Then after his victory, Sarkozy appointed her into his government. In 2008, she was elected as the mayor of the 7th arrondissement of Paris. She is proud of being an outspoken politician, who has helped blazed a trail for minorities and Muslim women in France.

Beyond her work in politics, she founded a consulting company that is called “La Bourdonnais consultant,” that she eventually quit to become a lawyer. She even sits on the Huffington Post editorial board and writes weekly columns about different women’s issues. She is a part of the Union for a Popular Movement party too.

Dati has been honored by the Two Sicilian Royal Family with the Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Francis. In 2016, BBC named Dati one of the most influential and inspirational women in the world. She stated that she has built her life on the razor’s edge.

The feminine name Rachida is the french version of the Arabic name Rachid, which means “wise, righteous, or knows her own way”, “true faith” or “mature”. There are a few notable people with the name, from Rashida Tlaib the American politician to Rashida Jones the American film producer, movie actress and screenwriter.