French press review
As former IMF chief Dominque Strauss-Kahn goes under house arrest in a New York apartment, the newspapers are once again devoted to his rise and fall.
Le Figaro opens with the big news that the ex-IMF chief is out of Rikers Island prison, released and placed on house arrest after being charged with sexual assault. “Strauss-Kahn, resident” is the headline in Libération.
But Le Figaro points to last minute complications that marred the transfer. The newspaper narrates the stressful wait in prison after the original plan for him to live in a plush Manhattan apartment fell through.
Le Figaro says residents of the complex refused to accept him as a neighbour. Libé reports that the judge agreed to allow him move into a temporary place near Ground Zero offering the same maximum security conditions.
Le Monde takes up the charges facing the ex-IMF chief as he prepares to appear in court in June.
That will be on 6 June according to Le Monde. The newspaper recalls that he is indicted on all seven charges related to the alleged sexual assault and attempted rape of the maid last Saturday in his luxury suite at Manhattan's Sofitel hotel.
Strauss-Kahn has denied all the charges and is expected to plead not guilty, according to the paper.
Le Monde also reports that US media say police have taken forensic evidence from the hotel, including bodily fluids found on a section of rug where the alleged victim remembered spitting after she says Strauss-Kahn assaulted her and forced her to perform oral sex.
His lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, said earlier this week the evidence "will not be consistent with a forcible encounter", suggesting the defense was preparing to go to trial and could argue that whatever happened was consensual.
estimates Strauss-Kahn could spend up to 3 million dollars on rents, his house arrest, lawyers fees and on the hiring of detectives.
The Strauss-Kahn case has opened a debate on the differences between the French and American judicial systems.
Le Monde sought the opinion of respected French magistrate Denis Salas.
He picks out disparities in the indictment procedure noting that under American law, the prosecution goes out swinging to wear down the suspect through stress, debts and humiliation.
Magistrate Salas pointed to the disgraceful manner in which Strauss-Kahn has been treated and the general impression here in France that the whole procedure has been brutal despite the defendant’s rights to presumed innocence.
Le Monde also raises ethical questions about the conduct of the media during its coverage of the Strauss-Kahn affaire.
The independent newspaper faults the press for turning the nightmare of a suspected criminal into a soap opera that sent Strauss-Kahn’s enemies into feats of ecstasy and his supporters reeling in disgust.
notes that the Strauss-Kahn thriller even stole a march on the Cannes Film Festival as stake-holders rushed their engagements and rescheduled others in order not to miss live television of the trial.
Le Monde insists that the media 'coming out', according to the newspaper, has undermined the rigours of transparency, vacillated the values of truth and fuelled the proliferation of conspiracy theories in France about the Strauss-Kahn affair.
The judicial problems of Monsieur Strauss-Kahn and his prolonged absence from France has reopened what could be a damaging dispute about the Socialist Party’s presidential primaries.
Le Monde claims that his political galaxy is deeply devastated following the dramatic downfall. Le Figaro comments that while Strauss-Kahnians are looking elsewhere to revive their political fortunes, others are digging in, hoping for a miraculous resurrection of their champion.
Some of Strauss-Kahn’s disciples even want the Socialist presidential primaries to be delayed.
Le Monde holds that the party has cast out the devil and since moved on, its eyes now focussed on finding a new flag-bearer to lead them to what is widely seen as a winnable election come 2012.
The so-called emerging nations are clamouring for the IMF post, now up for grabs following Strauss-Kahn’s resignation.
The nomination process would be opened on Monday until 10 June, with the aim of completing the process by 30 June, according to a press release issued on Friday.
Le Monde reports that new economic powers like China, India and Brazil are calling for an end to Europe's lock on the position since the creation of the IMF in1946.
The 65-year-old gentleman's agreement has allowed Washington to monopolize the World Bank presidency.
Names mentioned include Indian planner Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Mexican central banker, Agustin Carstens and Trevor Manuel, South Africa's former finance minister.
Le Figaro states that French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde has emerged as Europe's choice for the job.
According to the conservative newspaper, Lagarde, is widely respected in global financial circles, and well liked by the United States - which controls 16.8 per cent of the voting power on the IMF executive board.
Le Monde also points to the fact that Europe's seven directors control 31.5 percent of the vote.
EU officials told the paper they should get such a signal at Deauville, the French resort where the world's eight top industrialized powers will meet on 26-27 May.
Libération
Le Figaro
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Le Figaro says residents of the complex refused to accept him as a neighbour. Libé reports that the judge agreed to allow him move into a temporary place near Ground Zero offering the same maximum security conditions.
Le Monde takes up the charges facing the ex-IMF chief as he prepares to appear in court in June.
That will be on 6 June according to Le Monde. The newspaper recalls that he is indicted on all seven charges related to the alleged sexual assault and attempted rape of the maid last Saturday in his luxury suite at Manhattan's Sofitel hotel.
Strauss-Kahn has denied all the charges and is expected to plead not guilty, according to the paper.
Le Monde also reports that US media say police have taken forensic evidence from the hotel, including bodily fluids found on a section of rug where the alleged victim remembered spitting after she says Strauss-Kahn assaulted her and forced her to perform oral sex.
His lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, said earlier this week the evidence "will not be consistent with a forcible encounter", suggesting the defense was preparing to go to trial and could argue that whatever happened was consensual.
estimates Strauss-Kahn could spend up to 3 million dollars on rents, his house arrest, lawyers fees and on the hiring of detectives.
The Strauss-Kahn case has opened a debate on the differences between the French and American judicial systems.
Le Monde sought the opinion of respected French magistrate Denis Salas.
He picks out disparities in the indictment procedure noting that under American law, the prosecution goes out swinging to wear down the suspect through stress, debts and humiliation.
Magistrate Salas pointed to the disgraceful manner in which Strauss-Kahn has been treated and the general impression here in France that the whole procedure has been brutal despite the defendant’s rights to presumed innocence.
Le Monde also raises ethical questions about the conduct of the media during its coverage of the Strauss-Kahn affaire.
The independent newspaper faults the press for turning the nightmare of a suspected criminal into a soap opera that sent Strauss-Kahn’s enemies into feats of ecstasy and his supporters reeling in disgust.
notes that the Strauss-Kahn thriller even stole a march on the Cannes Film Festival as stake-holders rushed their engagements and rescheduled others in order not to miss live television of the trial.
Le Monde insists that the media 'coming out', according to the newspaper, has undermined the rigours of transparency, vacillated the values of truth and fuelled the proliferation of conspiracy theories in France about the Strauss-Kahn affair.
The judicial problems of Monsieur Strauss-Kahn and his prolonged absence from France has reopened what could be a damaging dispute about the Socialist Party’s presidential primaries.
Le Monde claims that his political galaxy is deeply devastated following the dramatic downfall. Le Figaro comments that while Strauss-Kahnians are looking elsewhere to revive their political fortunes, others are digging in, hoping for a miraculous resurrection of their champion.
Some of Strauss-Kahn’s disciples even want the Socialist presidential primaries to be delayed.
Le Monde holds that the party has cast out the devil and since moved on, its eyes now focussed on finding a new flag-bearer to lead them to what is widely seen as a winnable election come 2012.
The so-called emerging nations are clamouring for the IMF post, now up for grabs following Strauss-Kahn’s resignation.
The nomination process would be opened on Monday until 10 June, with the aim of completing the process by 30 June, according to a press release issued on Friday.
Le Monde reports that new economic powers like China, India and Brazil are calling for an end to Europe's lock on the position since the creation of the IMF in1946.
The 65-year-old gentleman's agreement has allowed Washington to monopolize the World Bank presidency.
Names mentioned include Indian planner Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Mexican central banker, Agustin Carstens and Trevor Manuel, South Africa's former finance minister.
Le Figaro states that French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde has emerged as Europe's choice for the job.
According to the conservative newspaper, Lagarde, is widely respected in global financial circles, and well liked by the United States - which controls 16.8 per cent of the voting power on the IMF executive board.
Le Monde also points to the fact that Europe's seven directors control 31.5 percent of the vote.
EU officials told the paper they should get such a signal at Deauville, the French resort where the world's eight top industrialized powers will meet on 26-27 May.
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