Dominique Strauss-Kahn's French Support: Sixty Percent Of Left-Leaning Voters Want Him In Politics

PARIS, July 3 - Sixty percent of left-leaning French voters want former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn, whose high-profile trial on sexual assault charges could now collapse, to return to French politics, a poll released on Sunday showed.

Among the general public, 49 percent want Strauss-Kahn to return to the French political scene while 45 percent are against it, a Harris Interactive poll of 1,000 French people aged 18 and over.

The poll, published by French daily Le Parisien, was taken after Strauss-Kahn's release from house arrest on Friday and news that questions had been raised about the credibility of his accuser.

Before his arrest on May 14 on charges of sexually assaulting a hotel cleaner in New York, Strauss-Kahn had been widely expected to challenge French president Nicolas Sarkozy in 2012 elections and was the most popular among other possible contenders.

The poll also showed that while left-wing sympathisers see Strauss-Kahn returning to French politics, they are less sure about whether he should take part in the 2012 presidential race.

Only 51 percent of French leftists want the Socialist Party to postpone the July 13 deadline for registering candidacies in the primary to choose the party's contender.

Among the wider population, 49 percent of those polled -- compared to 43 percent of leftists -- do not want the Socialist Party to postpone the deadline.

Strauss-Kahn's next court appearance in New York will be for a July 18 hearing.

His supporters say he should have the right to run for the French presidency. If the U.S. justice system were to clear Strauss-Kahn's name, he could still make a bid, as candidates have until mid-March to declare themselves for the April 22 election.

But analysts say that the massive media coverage about his philandering and luxury lifestyle have damaged his image, making a 2012 run unlikely.

(Reporting by Geert De Clercq; Editing by Elizabeth Fullerton)

Copyright 2011 Thomson Reuters. Click for Restrictions.

Comments

[smburwick]

09:09 PM on 07/05/2011

budan: You are the one who needs to clean up your uncivilty.

[Observer111]

10:44 AM on 07/05/2011

Another Duke lacrosse-type story collapsed...same characters...a whack job makes an allegation and overzealous and seeking public attention prosecutors jump on the opportunity, make a person to do a perp walk (publicity for misguided law enforcement), etc. A large number of men mostly african americans served 10-20+ years for the r.pes they never committed before vindication...how many people are not vindicated? As much as prosecutors wanted to score they LOST, it's a good day.

[Derek Lantin]

07:20 PM on 07/05/2011

I agree

[jimall3]

03:24 AM on 07/05/2011

Why are we supposed to care? If the French want this slimy bas-terd back they can have him. Whe he is finished here with his trial and when he is done defaming that other French victim, that female reporter, he and Roman Polanski can rule France. Henri Levy can be there press sec. and then they can find a place for Woody Allen. good night! Remember a few years ago when we hated France? Now the American Press acts like they matter?

Are USA media moguls related to Sarkozy? Strauss Kahn? It all makes no sense considering how much the press hated them a few years ago.

[Kat119]

11:23 PM on 07/04/2011

Certainly French women voters have serious doubts about voting for DSK for President of France, or ever being alone in the same room w/ him.
He still has 7 Felony charges against him...forensic evidence indicates that he violently sexually assaulted the immigrant maid. She deserves her day in court...she was investigated and exploited but not DSK...where is the Jury??
Also, IMF is well known for raping poor people in poor countries financially and
stealing their precious resources.

[Joshua Grisenthwaite]

10:59 PM on 07/04/2011

If this is true, then I'd severely question the sanity of the French Socialist. DSK is a banker, a believer in free-trade, a zionist and a corporate shill. He is a socialist in name only, which leads me to believe that the french socialist will rally behind a red flag before checking to see who's waving it.

[word of reason]

09:57 PM on 07/04/2011

A millionaire head of IMF residing in a $3000.00 a night hotel is now darling of the left? Can someone please define for me what is left of "left"?

[Jasel]

09:13 PM on 07/04/2011

Eh that's France's business. Guy sounds like a predator though.

[dean1000]

07:28 PM on 07/04/2011

Haste makes waste. The socialist party of France should extend the filing deadline to August 1.
The situation if New York is not over but one thing is obvious, the IMF has been irresponsible and unsteady, Or...political. Either way elementary justice may require more than the IMF can afford.

[Assumed Name]

07:05 PM on 07/04/2011

...so: I'm guessing "French Feminist" is an oxymoron.

[verilyverily2]

12:04 AM on 07/05/2011

Actually, there are quite a few brilliant French feminists. Many French women publicly protested the insensitive, dismissive nature of male French "journalism" concerning the case. Those women literally protested in the streets with the obligatory signs. I hope they make a dent. It is sickening what some men have been allowed to do in society. If the law doesn't do its job, I'm afraid women will begin to resort to vigilante justice the way some females have started to in Japan. Though I suspect women in Western societies could get even MORE violent against men who try/tried to rape them.

[Assumed Name]

09:36 AM on 07/05/2011

Greetings Verily,

I'm actually familiar with French feminist theory. (...it's like reading Judith Butler, only it makes more sense. ;) I was, however, thinking more of men and women on the ground--political (as opposed to academic) feminists. From what you've written, there seems to be a movement...I hope they respond to DSK accordingly.

With regard to female violence against men, women, as a group, have never responded to men, as a group, with in-kind violence whether acts or intensity; hence, I suspect that your suspicion on that front won't be realized...perhaps sad to say. (I watched a documentary on sex slavery not long ago...it's stunning what (some) men get away with.)

Femi-regards,
--AN

[Hajnal]

02:33 AM on 07/05/2011

You're guessing wrong.

[Assumed Name]

09:37 AM on 07/05/2011

...oh, pooh.

[piceaglauca]

06:55 PM on 07/04/2011

I support this. The issues plaguing him are a sham. Je ne sais pas quoi dire.

[Derek Lantin]

07:46 PM on 07/04/2011

I agree

[verilyverily2]

11:59 PM on 07/04/2011

Piceaglauca, you're "joking," right? Much of the maid's statement has been corroborated by forensic EVIDENCE, right down to the wounds on Strauss-Kahn's back caused by the maid pushing him into furniture to try to stop his assault. No wonder women in France have taken to the streets in PROTEST. They HAD to protest the quite deliberate pretense of ignorance from fake-oblivious, insanely insensitive male commentators/ "journalists" in France. They know Strauss-Kahn should be in jail. I hope Banon takes him to the cleaners, too!!

[Derek Lantin]

07:24 PM on 07/05/2011

Mr. Kahn has acknowledged that a sexual encounter did take place. The 'forensic evidence' that you refer to merely corroborates what Mr. Kahn has already acknowledged, - yes, they did have sex.
I undertstand that Mr. Kahn had scratch marks on hs back? I have frequently had scratch marks on my back after sex, - if properly aroused, many women can become absolute tigresses in bed.

[Mao Meow2]

06:55 PM on 07/04/2011

Who DSK se xually assualts in his free doesn't impact the job he does as a phony l3ftist s0cialist. The public should stay out of politicians' private r a pe rooms.

[verilyverily2]

11:55 PM on 07/04/2011

Mao Meow2, you cannot be serious. Rape is a FELONY! If DSK assaulted two women, as they stated he did, he belongs in JAIL. Period. Women in France protested in the STREETS against the way male "journalists" in their country were so dismissive of that kind of PHYSICAL ASSAULT! I'm surprised that people like Arnold Schwarzennegger ( who was also accused of rape) and Strauss-Kahn haven't been SHOT yet. If they are allowed to keep on it's just a matter of time. JAIL might be the safest place for them. Shaking my head.

[eoagent0007]

06:12 PM on 07/04/2011

Why is this a surprise. The French and the Italians dismiss women as 2nd class citizens and keep electing and re-electing immoral and perverted old men. Case in point Berlesconi from Italy has been getting a free ride for decades and the women haven't stood up to him and haven't voted him out.

[Hajnal]

02:34 AM on 07/05/2011

You have no clue what you are talking about. Women are second class citizens in France? Prove it.

[DisillusionedAndSad]

06:08 PM on 07/04/2011

May be he could get Roman Polanski to campaign for him. To the French, Polanski seems to be another "victim" of prudish, provincial American justice.

[Assumed Name]

07:06 PM on 07/04/2011

...right: what's a little rape here and there? :b

[cadawa]

05:35 PM on 07/04/2011

Hence the lawsuit by the wealthy French novelist who suddenly remembered she been assaulted.

[quindy]

06:25 PM on 07/04/2011

I don't think you should make fun of a woman who has been sexually assaulted. If you have read about her case you would have seen that even her mother advised against pressing charges because DSK was powerful man and she didn't see that her daughter could get fair trial. That tells more about French judicial system than about the girl. If your avatar is right, and you are a woman you should be double ashamed.

[Derek Lantin]

07:44 PM on 07/04/2011

Nobody wishes to belittle a woman who has been subject to an assault. However we are free, I think, to voice crtiicism of people who we perceive as opportunists.
At the time of the alleged, attempted, assault, Ms. Banon was a 22 year-old experienced journalist. She was hardly a shrinking violet who would shy away from publicity because her mother advised her to do so.
I fully expect to see this case thrown out of the court as time-wasting opportunism.

[Kat119]

11:10 PM on 07/04/2011

Unfortunately, at least 1 in 4 women experience rape...fear of coming forward, plus further accusations w/ historically very little if any justice are huge problems.

[F---racism]

07:35 PM on 07/04/2011

There is no 'sudden' to it. DSK cracks have been on-going for years...

[PoliticalCow]

05:30 PM on 07/04/2011

#ClosingArguments

The keyword is in the title: "LEFT-LEANING"