DOMINIQUE STRAUSS-KAHN’S first interview since his downfall drew a cool response in France yesterday, with opponents dismissing it as an insincere ploy aimed at rehabilitating his career.
Some 13.5 million viewers watched TF1’s Sunday news bulletin – its highest audience since riots erupted across France in November 2005 – to see the former head of the International Monetary Fund express “infinite regret” over his sexual encounter with a New York hotel maid in May.
Mr Strauss-Kahn acknowledged he committed a “moral error” but denied he acted violently and suggested the maid, Nafissatou Diallo (32), had lied in her account of the liaison.
"A funny kind of apology," read the front-page headline in Le Parisien, reflecting the verdict of most newspapers that Mr Strauss-Kahn had not done enough to swing public opinion behind him.
"Everything seemed preprepared, rehearsed, learned by heart, set up, as if it was pre-recorded," remarked Libération, which is supportive of the Socialist Party.
Mr Strauss-Kahn was the frontrunner to win the party’s nomination to challenge French president Nicolas Sarkozy in the 2012 election until his arrest on sexual assault charges in May. He conceded on Sunday that he no longer had any chance of contesting the presidency, but analysts noted that he did not rule out a future role in government.
"Beneath the remorse and all the ostensible signs of sincerity, you could already see the determination peeking through," said right-wing daily Le Figaroin an editorial.
The former finance minister was widely criticised for having suggested he might have been the victim of a trap or plot – a remark Libérationdescribed as "a faux pas" and Jean-François Copé, head of the ruling UMP party, said was "shocking".
“It’s extremely shocking that the idea of a plot is being added on top of everything else we’ve been through,” Mr Copé said, adding that the interview was “pathetic and sad”.
Mr Strauss-Kahn returned to France earlier this month after prosecutors dropped charges of attempted rape over his encounter with Ms Diallo.
Prominent feminist Thalia Breton said she was “disgusted” by the interview, while far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen was scathing, saying “the trickery was so blatant that it was all hard to believe”.
Ms Diallo’s lawyers criticised Mr Strauss-Kahn for failing to give an account of what happened in the Manhattan hotel room where the maid claims she was attacked.
“We look forward to greeting him in our offices and asking him the questions the reporter failed to do,” Kenneth Thompson and Douglas Wigdor, who are bringing a civil case against him in New York, said yesterday.
Opinion was divided among senior Socialist Party figures.
Arnaud Montebourg, one of six candidates in the party’s presidential primary, said he was not convinced by the interview and felt Mr Strauss-Kahn should have apologised.
Another candidate, Ségolène Royal, said she hoped the TV appearance would allow the French people to “turn the page” on the affair. However, she also ruled out for the first time the idea of giving Mr Strauss-Kahn a government post if she became president.
Mr Strauss-Kahn’s allies were quick to defend him, praising what they saw as a contrite and dignified performance by a man who had, in his owns words, “lost everything” as a result of his mistake.
“Dominique spoke the language of the heart, of truth and intelligence,” said former culture minister Jack Lang.
“His remarkable intervention was full of emotion and fairness. I’m proud to be his friend.”