Rape and politics

[thir]

If it was a conspiracy, it was a pretty half-baked one that seems likely to have the opposite result. (You'd think a conspiracy would have found a "victim" with fewer embarrassing secrets.) Even before this new development, 60% in France thought he was being framed. If he is cleared, which seems increasingly likely (and I speak of the legalistic position, not whether I think he did it), I would not be surprised if he was back in the French Presidential race with a PR boost as the man they tried to do down and failed.

The accusation meant taking him out of the race according to all political observers. That is a pretty damn serious result. It also meant him resigning from the IMF, which is even worse.

I think you can safely say that the conspiracy, if any, have worked like a charm.

[leo9]

The accusation meant taking him out of the race according to all political observers. That is a pretty damn serious result. It also meant him resigning from the IMF, which is even worse.

I think you can safely say that the conspiracy, if any, have worked like a charm.

According to the French papers he is now back in the race with a bullet, the Socialist Party are discussing delaying their nomination process so he can be named after the court case (assuming, which they are assuming, that he will be cleared.) His popularity in France has soared. And the IMF has not refused loans to Greece, which was supposed to be the purpose of removing him from that post.

[js207]

According to the French papers he is now back in the race with a bullet, the Socialist Party are discussing delaying their nomination process so he can be named after the court case (assuming, which they are assuming, that he will be cleared.) His popularity in France has soared. And the IMF has not refused loans to Greece, which was supposed to be the purpose of removing him from that post.

Quite ... remember, he'd have had to quit the IMF anyway to fight the French election (can't really do that effectively from another continent!) and the French have a disturbingly high tolerance of appalling conduct by politicians and other public figures. Remember, this is the country which sheltered a notorious paedophile rapist from US courts even after conviction! Even if the French believe he's guilty, as long as he isn't physically detained at the time I doubt it will be any impediment to his campaign - perhaps the reverse.

Which, with conspiracy theories on the agenda, raises the possibility of it being a plot on his own side, perhaps backfiring slightly ... a few more minutes, he'd have been airborne and safely back on French soil, with no risk of extradition and a glamorous legend of how he outwitted NYPD to boost his profile back home!