Strauss-Kahn sex case throws open French election

The arrest of IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn on sexual assault charges has plunged France's Socialists into turmoil and thrown wide open the race for the presidency.

France was mesmerised on Monday by TV images of a handcuffed Strauss-Kahn, a centre-leftist viewed until now as the frontrunner for the 2012 election, being led away by police for DNA tests over the alleged assault in a New York hotel.

His lawyers said Strauss-Kahn would plead not guilty to charges that he tried to rape a chambermaid at the hotel after chasing her, naked, down a corridor and trying to lock her in a room.

While politicians from all parties said Strauss-Kahn, popularly known by his initials DSK, should be presumed innocent until proven guilty, political commentators were unanimous in pronouncing the last rites on his political career.

One thing is certain: Dominique Strauss-Kahn will not be the next president of the French republic, the conservative daily Le Figaro said in an editorial.

In the space of 15 days the new idol of the French left has exploded. Such a swift disintegration has rarely been seen, editorialist Paul-Henri du Limbert wrote.

Strauss-Kahn's arrest is a big setback to the opposition Socialist Party, which kicks off its primary in July as part of its campaign to win its first presidential election in 24 years.

The Socialists have lost the candidate who was riding high in the polls ... (and was) the best placed to beat (President) Nicolas Sarkozy, wrote the left-leaning Liberation newspaper. Its headline said: DSK Out.

DAMAGING IMAGES

Before his arrest, Strauss-Kahn had been the subject of mounting media commentary on his lifestyle. Critics accused him of a fondness for women, an easy relationship with money and a luxury lifestyle that sat uneasily with his Socialist credentials.

Liberation published comments he made at the end of April when he said the three most difficult issues for his presidential bid would be: Money, women and my Jewishness

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