Leading French Socialist arrested for sexual assault

[Warren Dew]

A poll published in France's Le Parisien newspaper on Sunday as the scandal was breaking across the Atlantic had suggested that Strauss-Kahn was likely to win the Socialist Party nomination for president later this year. Several other polls gave him a good shot at unseating unpopular incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy next spring....

About 1 p.m. Saturday, a maid at the Sofitel hotel entered Strauss-Kahn's room to clean it, said Paul J. Browne, deputy New York City police commissioner, adding that the French official came out of the bathroom naked, pushed her onto the bed and assaulted her.

Given he's French, this may not hurt his election chances - though governing from a New York prison might be tough.

[Adenosine]

So...the fact that he's the head of the IMF is secondary to the fact that he's a French Socialist?

[charlou]

Interesting timing for these accusations. He was well in the political lead and now his political prospects could well be over, regardless of whether he's guilty or innocent of the charges.

[pErvinalia]

Bloody socialists! Bunch of rapists...

[JimC]

Leading French socialist staying in a luxury penthouse suite...

C'est la vie...

[Mishakal]

Isn't it sad that before the trial even begins that people are already calling the woman involved either a liar, a dupe, or in the French media every word play that implies the word 'whore'...

Oh and here is a neat little article I found that goes more in-depth about Strauss-Kahn's history of womanizing, there is a pattern of abuse in his behavior towards women that might shed some light on the situation...

Smoke and Fire: Why France Was Silent About Strauss-Kahn's Womanizing