WHEN NEWS of Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s arrest in New York reached his colleagues in Paris in May, the leader of the Socialist Party, Martine Aubry, called it a thunderbolt. Yesterday, stunned senior party figures reached for the same word to describe the possible unravelling of a case that has transformed the race for the French presidency.
“It’s like a thunderbolt, but this time in a different sense,” said Lionel Jospin, former prime minister and friend of Mr Strauss-Kahn, known as DSK.
Party colleagues rejoiced at news that the case against DSK could be on the verge of collapse, with some even calling for the closing date for nominations for the Socialist Party’s presidential primary to be extended to give the former finance minister the chance to stage a political comeback.
“If Dominique Strauss-Kahn is cleared, I ask the Socialist Party to suspend the primary process,” said Michèle Sabban, a prominent party figure. François Hollande, who has taken Mr Strauss-Kahn’s place as favourite for the nomination, said he was open to the idea of extending the deadline for nominations beyond July 13th. Mr Strauss-Kahn’s next court hearing in New York is scheduled for July 18th.
Ms Aubry, who is contesting the primary, spoke of her “immense joy” at the news from New York. “I hope that the American justice system establishes the whole truth . . . and allows Dominique to get out of this nightmare.”
Some of DSK’s closest allies claimed yesterday’s news vindicated their defence of him. Others expressed satisfaction at the prospect of a case that had stained the country’s reputation coming to an end.
“All those who dragged him in the mud are perhaps seeing things differently today,” Jean-Marie Le Guen, a socialist close to DSK, told France Info radio.
Mr Le Guen was among many French people, both supporters and critics of Mr Strauss-Kahn, who claimed the former head of the International Monetary Fund was the target of a plot. Within days of his arrest, a poll suggested a majority of French people were of the same view.
“Today I am thinking of the integrity of a man that has been thrown to the dogs . . . and of the news we hope will enable him to restore his honour,” said acting Socialist Party leader Harlem Désir. But while some of DSK’s loudest supporters were raising the possibility of a triumphant return to the presidential race, the likelihood of that happening still seemed remote.
The contest is already under way, and most of his allies have by now declared their support for alternative candidates. Even if the charges against him were to be dropped, the saga has generated such a volume of negative publicity that the task of repairing his image before the socialist candidate is selected in October would be immense.
“He could still play a major role in France, without being candidate. This would give [us] an extra chance for victory,” said Jack Lang, a socialist former minister, adding that Mr Strauss-Kahn could even be appointed a minister again under a socialist president.
One of the few senior French politicians not to weigh in on the news from New York yesterday was President Nicolas Sarkozy, who has remained silent on the case since its outset. Mr Sarkozy’s record low approval ratings have improved modestly since the withdrawal from French politics of the man polls suggested was best placed to defeat him in the 2012 election.
“The Élysée has always had the same position on the DSK affair: to say nothing,” a spokesman for Mr Sarkozy’s office said.
