Strauss-Kahn 2012 hopes hit buffers

FRENCH voters have said in an opinion poll that newlyfreed former International Monetary Fund director and presidential favourite Dominique Strauss-Kahn should keep out of politics.

Hopes by the left-wing that Strauss-Kahn could step back into the race for the 2012 presidency after attempted rape charges in New York were dropped took a severe knock after the poll showed 80% against a political return.

Although he left the court apparently without a stain on his character the litany of tales of sexual extravagance – and the threat of charges being laid in France over an alleged attack on writer Tristane Banon in 2003 – left their mark on voters.

Socialist Party leader Martine Aubry – who made a pact to support Strauss-Kahn before he was arrested – said as the charges were dropped
he would be “useful to France” while her party rival to be presidential candidate, Francois Hollande, was “delighted”.

Many on the Left had said Strauss-Kahn should again take up the reins as their presidential candidate but they will be forced to think again after 77% of left-wing sympathisers polled for RTL and regional papers disagreed.

Strauss-Kahn was freed when prosecutors dropped attempted rape charges after Sofitel maid Nafissatou Diallo was found to have lied about the alleged attack in May and changed her story several times, including on oath in front of the grand jury. They said they could not hope to convince a jury “beyond reasonable doubt” of his guilt.

However, Diallo is going ahead with a civil action against Strauss-Kahn but may herself also face charges of lying to the grand jury and of being an illegal immigrant.