Strauss-Kahn: Euro Collapse Not a Solution - by Bob Davis

Former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn, looking to re-establish his credentials as a global political presence after a sex scandal, sharply criticized Europe's handling of its debt crisis and predicted as many as seven years of subpar European growth unless the Continent's leaders changed policies.

Europe's political shortcomings are "bleeding away, day by day, the remaining confidence investors may have in politicians being able to solve the crisis," Mr. Strauss-Kahn said. A €640 billion rescue fund (about $833 billion) being assembled by the European Union and the IMF is "in limbo" because it requires political approvals that may take months to obtain, he added.

He chose a conference in Beijing organized by a Chinese Internet company, NetEase.com Inc., to make his remarks, the first since he resigned under pressure earlier this year. Neither Mr. Strauss-Kahn nor the conference organizers would say how much he was paid for the address.

In his speech, He said Europe's leaders had focused too heavily on the Continent's debt problems and insufficiently on growth—though the IMF under his leadership had insisted that European nations cut social spending in exchange for IMF loans.

For more: Strauss-Kahn: Euro Collapse Not a Solution - WSJ.com

France: Strauss-Kahn acknowledges moral failings, maintains New York hotel maid 'lied' - by Jenny Barchfield

In his first interview since his May 14 arrest over sexual assault accusations, Strauss-Kahn told France's TF1 television channel what happened between him and the maid, Nafissatou Diallo, "did not involve violence, constraint or aggression."Still, he acknowledged, it "was not only an inappropriate relationship, but more than that, it was an error."

Strauss-Kahn, a Socialist politician who was widely considered a top contender in next year's presidential race until the case broke, said "it was a failing, a failing vis-a-vis my wife, my children and my friends but also a failing vis-a-vis the French people, who had vested their hopes for change in me.

"I think it was a moral failing and I am not proud of it. I regret it infinitely. I have regretted it everyday for the past four months and I think I'm not done regretting it," he said at the start of the 20-minute interview. Much of the exchange came off as staged, with Strauss-Kahn appearing calm and unruffled throughout and not surprised by the questions.

For more: Strauss-Kahn acknowledges moral failings, maintains New York hotel maid 'lied' - chicagotribune.com

Strauss-Kahn set for return to France after case dismissed

A New York court has thrown out the criminal sex assault charges against former IMF chief Dominique Strauss Kahn.
 It came after prosecutors said they had doubts about the credibility of his accuser.  The man once seen as a leading French presidential contender should be free to return to France. 
 
For more: Strauss-Kahn set for return to France after case dismissed | euronews, world news

France: Prosecutor to drop Strauss-Kahn charges

U.S. prosecutors will drop sexual assault charges against ex-IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn at his next court appearance in two weeks, or earlier, because of doubts about the credibility of the alleged victim, the New York Post said on Tuesday.


The newspaper quoted an unnamed top investigator in the case who said the eventual dismissal of charges was "a certainty". "We all know this case is not sustainable," The New York Post quoted its source as saying.

"Her credibility is so bad now, we know we cannot sustain a case with her," the source told the newspaper, referring to the Guinean hotel maid who accused Strauss-Kahn of trying to rape her in a luxury hotel in Manhattan.

For more: Report: Prosecutor to drop Strauss-Kahn charges - US news - Crime & courts - msnbc.com

France mulls Strauss-Kahn's comeback as hotel rape case stumbles

Prior to his arrest for alleged sexual assault in May, the then managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had been seen as a possible presidential candidate for France's Socialist Party. His arrest not only forced him to resign from his post at the IMF but also appeared to put an end to whatever political aspirations he might have had. 

But on Friday, July 1, there were signs that the prosecution case against him was falling apart. As doubts emerged about the credibility of the 32-year-old Guinean luxury hotel maid's claims, Strauss-Kahn, 62 was summoned to a New York court, where he was released on his own recognizance and without bail. While he was ordered not to leave the country so that he could appear again in court later this month, he is no longer under house arrest and no longer has to wear an electric ankle bracelet.

Friday's events have led to much speculation in France that the charges against Strauss-Kahn would eventually be dropped, and sparked discussion about whether this would allow him to take a run at the Socialist presidential candidacy.

For more: France mulls Strauss-Kahn's comeback as hotel rape case stumbles | Europe | Deutsche Welle | 02.07.2011

France: Dominique Strauss-Kahn 'thunderbolt' changes stakes in French president race

The lifting of Dominique Strauss-Kahn's house arrest amid the New York prosecution's reassessment of its case for alleged rape has stunned France and revived hopes of his return to politics.

Allies of Strauss-Kahn, who had been the firm favorite to win next year's presidential race against Nicolas Sarkozy, speculated that his political career could now be saved and he could play a crucial role in the election campaign. Even before Friday's court hearing, Socialists expressed their "joy" at press reports that prosecutors had questions about the alleged victim's credibility.


The French Socialist party this week launched its primary race for a candidate on the basis that Strauss-Kahn's political career was over. Candidates must declare before July 13 and face a vote in October. The Socialist Michèle Sabban said: "If Dominique Strauss-Kahn is cleared, I ask the Socialist party to suspend the primary process." Party spokesman Benoît Hamon said suspending the primary race was "not the order of the day" and everything would depend on what happened now in the American justice system.

For more: Dominique Strauss-Kahn 'thunderbolt' changes stakes in French president race | World news | The Guardian

Strauss-Kahn to be released on bail P BY Barney Jopson and Johanna Kasse

Mr Strauss-Kahn, who resigned as managing director of the International Monetary Fund early on Thursday, will be kept under 24-hour armed guard at a New York residence while he awaits trial. He was expected to be released within 24 hours after a $1m bond is posted and processed. Mr Strauss-Khan was joined in the New York City court by his wife Anne Sinclair and daughter Camille.

FOR MORE: FT.com / Global Economy - Strauss-Kahn to be released on bail

Berlusconi better behave whenever he goes to US as Europe debates on IMF chief Strauss-Khan Vary

The Wall Street Journal reports that varied responses across Europe this week to the arrest of Dominique Strauss-Kahn highlight deeply rooted differences in how countries view the case and how they have dealt with sexual transgressions by their leaders over the years.

In Italy, where for years Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has regularly made sexual innuendoes and jokes, the premier's recent trial on charges of paying an underage girl for sex—charges he denies—has prompted women's groups to protest what they call the male establishment's demeaning attitude toward women. Comparisons between Mr. Strauss-Kahn's case and Mr. Berlusconi's trial abound, with editorialists widely commending the U.S. justice system's thus-far swift handling of the case. "Public opinion has become less tolerant of such behavior," said Italian sociologist Domenico De Masi.

In countries to the north, there has been more criticism of what many see as America's excessively media-friendly and trigger-happy judicial process. U.S. use of the death penalty is a topic followed closely in countries such as Germany and France, where capital punishment is illegal and often described as barbaric.

EU-Digest

For more: In Europe, Strauss-Kahn Views Vary - WSJ.com

IMF's Dominique Strauss-Kahn resigns, debate on successor heats up

Dominique Strauss-Kahn has resigned as head of the International Monetary Fund, saying he needs to devote all his energy to fight charges that he sexually assaulted a hotel maid.

"I deny with the greatest possible firmness all of the allegations that have been made against me," Strauss-Kahn said in a resignation letter released by the IMF and dated May 18.

In a poll released in France on Wednesday, 57 percent of respondents thought the Socialist politician was definitely or probably the victim of a plot.

EU-Digest

Europe moves to protect claim to IMF top job - by DAVID McHUGH and GEIR MOULSON

Europe is moving quickly to protect its traditional claim to the top job at the IMF ahead of the expected departure of current chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn, resisting a push from developing countries to appoint someone from another region.

Strauss-Kahn remains jailed in New York after his arrest for allegedly sexually assaulting a hotel maid, and his departure is expected to be only a matter of time.

Germany and other European countries are pre-emptively insisting a European should head the fund, the custom since World War II, given that the eurozone debt crisis is the fund's central issue. But many developing nations note that because of their increasing wealth and role in the global economy, they should have a chance to name the successor.

For more: Europe moves to protect claim to IMF top job - seattlepi.com

US treatment of IMF chief outrageous say Europeans

The arrest of Strauss-Kahn amid massive publicity introduced many French and Europeans to that classic of U.S. criminal arraignments, the perp walk. They are also seeing an adversarial justice system in operation, rather different from the one back home. Not to mention typical American puritanism and prudishness (imagine being upset at a little sexual adventurism) on full display.

The term perp walk is an American slang term which refers to the police practice of intentionally parading an arrested suspect (or "perp", short for "perpetrator") through a public place so that the media may observe and record the event. The suspect is typically handcuffed or otherwise restrained. They are also seeing an adversarial justice system in operation, rather different from the one back home. Not to mention typical American puritanism and prudishness (imagine being upset at a little sexual adventurism) on full display.

Europeans are also outraged — outraged — by a New York judge’s refusal to grant bail to the former IMF head. Her action has frayed Franco-U.S. relations (again) and had the unlikely effect of casting the accused as a victim.

EU-Digest

IMF boss's alleged victim 'is Senegalese'

Reports reaching Senegal from New York say the woman whom the International Monetary Fund (IMF) boss Dominique Strauss-Kahn is alleged to have attempted to rape is a Senegalese national.

According to the New York-based correspondent of the Sud FM radio in Dakar, the woman is a native of Senegal who migrated to the US and has been living in New York.

The correspondent told the radio that the 32-year-old woman, whose name is being withheld, has been working for the Sofitel Hotel in New York for nearly three years.

For more: Africa Review - IMF boss's alleged victim 'is Senegalese'

IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn 'feared political enemy would pay woman to allege rape' - by Peter Allen

Dominique Strauss-Kahn feared that one of his political opponents would pay a woman more than $1million to say he raped her, it emerged today.The extraordinary revelation emerged in Paris as the International Monetary Fund head remained in a New York police cell accused of launching a sex attack on a hotel maid.

Liberation, the left-wing daily newspaper, published details on off-the-record comments made by Strauss-Kahn as recently as April 28th. 

Discussing his plans to challenge Nicolas Sarkozy as Socialist candidate for the presidency in 2012, he said he imagined ‘a woman who had been raped in a car park and who was offered between €500,000 and €1,000,000 to make up such a story. Because he was the clear favorite to beat Mr Sarkozy, Strauss-Kahn feared he would be subjected to a smear campaign by the President and his Interior Minister, Glaude Gueant. Such theories were bolstered by the fact that the first person to break the news of Strauss-Kahn’s arrest was an activist in Mr Sarkozy’s UMP party – who apparently knew about the scandal before it happened.

Jonathan Pinet, a politics student, tweeted the news just before the New York Police Department made it public, although he said that he simply had a ‘friend’ working at the Sofitel where the attack was said to have happened.

Note EU-Digest: what is also remarkable is Mr. Kahn's treatment as a hardened criminal by the New York Police Department. Obviously there should be no preferential treatment in any judicial system, but in this case it looks very much like reverse discrimination.

For more: IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn 'feared political enemy would pay woman to allege rape' | Mail Online

Police seek evidence of sex attack from IMF chief

The head of the International Monetary Fund was examined for evidence that could incriminate him in the alleged sexual assault of a hotel maid, charges that stunned the global financial world and upended French presidential politics.

Strauss-Kahn was taken into custody on Saturday and spent more than 24 hours inside a Harlem precinct, where police say the maid identified him from a lineup, then headed to a hospital for a "forensic examination" requested by prosecutors to obtain more evidence in the case, defense lawyer William Taylor said. He was taken to a Manhattan court early today.

Another defense attorney, Benjamin Brafman, said the IMF managing director "intends to vigorously defends these charges and he denies any wrongdoing."

For more: Police seek evidence of sex attack from IMF chief | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

Germany wants another European to head IMF if Dominique Strauss-Kahn resigns -

Germany would like another European to replace Dominique Strauss-Kahn if the current head of the IMF were to resign, Germany's government spokesman Steffen Seibert said Monday.

"Europe doesn't have a right to the director's chair, that's obvious. But in the current situation when the IMF is especially needed to fight the crisis in some euro states, the German government sees good reasons why there should be a good European candidate" to take over from Strauss-Kahn, Seibert told a press conference.

Should Strauss-Kahn be forced to resign "Germany would make this clear to its international partners," he added. 

For more: Germany wants another European to head IMF if Dominique Strauss-Kahn resigns - The Economic Times

IMF chief arrested in alleged sex assault - by Zachary A. Goldfarb and Edward Cody

The head of the International Monetary Fund was charged early Sunday in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a housekeeper at a Manhattan hotel Saturday, a New York police spokesman said.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn, 62, who had been removed from a Paris-bound flight in New York minutes before takeoff Saturday, was questioned by the New York Police Department’s special victims office and arrested at 2:15 a.m. Sunday on charges of criminal sex act, attempted rape and unlawful imprisonment, a spokesman said.

The allegations create immediate uncertainty for the Washington-based IMF, which has been playing an important role in stabilizing the global economy amid the financial crisis. The arrest also promises to stir up politics in France, where Strauss-Kahn is widely thought to be considering challenging French President Nicolas Sarkozy in next year’s election. Polls have indicated that he would have a good chance of defeating Sarkozy.

For more: IMF chief arrested in alleged sex assault - The Washington Post

Sarkozy unsettled by the rise of IMF boss Strauss-Kahn

The purpose of IMF's chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s visit to Berlin yesterday may have been to lobby German leaders over the bailout for Greece, but peddlers in Parisian political intrigue will have kept a close eye on events in the German capital.

It’s a sign of just how credible a threat the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is believed to pose to President Nicolas Sarkozy’s chances of re-election in 2012 that a rumour has circulated in Paris for months that Sarkozy’s reluctance to involve the IMF in the Greek rescue was driven partly out of fear of bolstering the profile of his heavyweight rival. The theory has a far-fetched ring to it, but the president has every reason to be unsettled by Strauss-Kahn’s rise.

As Sarkozy’s popularity has sunk to new depths in recent months, that of the Socialist former finance minister has been climbing steadily. Polls consistently place him as one of the most popular French politicians and the candidate most likely to defeat Sarkozy in the 2012 election. An Ifop poll in February found that in a head-to-head, a remarkable 61 per cent of people would back Strauss-Kahn against just 36 per cent for Sarkozy.

For more: Sarkozy unsettled by the rise of IMF boss Strauss-Kahn - The Irish Times - Thu, Apr 29, 2010