On air at 1100GMT: What does the DSK case reveal about France?
|
Tuesday, 5 May 2011
|12:00 - 12:30 GMT
Despite the offer of $1million bail Dominque Strauss-Kahn, the head of the IMF, was forced to spend last night in the tough New York Rikers Island jail. He was arrested on Saturday boarding a plane after being accused of trying to rape a hotel maid. The court said for this reason it was a risk he would skip bail. He denies the charges.
He faces seven charges and could be jailed for up to 25 years if found guilty. Is Rikers Island jail the right place for him? Should a prisoner like DSK get special treatment?
It's a huge turn round of events. He was seen as a frontrunner in next year's French Presidential election, the Times newspaper reports a former close colleague of Strauss-Kahn saying (subscription only)
"He is on the same level as the head of state of any of the G8 countries. This is why his arrest has come as such a shock. When you are in that position you think about every move you make"
DSK, Dominque Strauss-Kahn and Rikers island are all trending worldwide on twitter.
There's been shock in France at seeing Mr Strauss-Kahn handcuffed on TV. In France it is illegal to show pictures of people accused of crimes, but not convicted.
Gilles Klein, a French social media journalist, who joined us on yesterday's World Have Your Say, said the US hard line approach with Dominque Strauss-Kahn was the Americans way of getting back at France over the Iraq war.
Will this put further pressure on the American French relationship?
And critics are now asking whether the media in France is shielding the political elite,
"It raises the uncomfortable question in the French media and politics of two parallel worlds: what is printed, and what is behind it, gossip, and what must officially remain "unsaid".
Your comments
Comment sent via unknown: 23129
12:28
113631290
<p>
Jason A Stein tweets: I don't agree with those questioning cost of the visit. #Obama's visit in a few weeks will probably cost more</p>
Comment sent via unknown: 23129
12:28
113631290
<p>
Khan Bapa, posted on Twitter: Wow, the Queen's visit to Ireland is costing 拢26.2million in security. Surely doing it via video link would've been more cost effective?</p>
Comment sent via YOURSAY
12:27
113631290
<p>
Padraig in Dublin emails: I think the Queen's visit is a two sided coin. It's great for the growth of both countries and necessary if we're ever to leave the past in the past, but at the same time a lot of the Irish population, myself included, feels an apology is needed for bloody Sunday.</p>
Comment sent via unknown: 23129
12:27
113631290
<p>
Shane in Tipperary emails: I think it's marvellous that the queen is visiting Ireland. However, even in the towns she's visiting, very few people will get to see her. There will be a 7-km cordon around Cashel for example, and no one will be allowed in or out without a permit. So although the queen will be a mere 13km away from me, I shan't get to see her. That's a pity, and it detracts from the fanfare for many people.</p>
Comment sent via YOURSAY
12:26
113631290
<p>
Simon in Dublin emails: As an Irishman I am proud to see the Queen of England visiting our Country. I think it is an important day for both our nations and I hope her trip will be a success in every sense of the word.</p>
Comment sent via YOURSAY
12:26
113631290
<p>
Twitty Karen tweets: Welcome to Ireland Queen Elizabeth. I hope your stay here will be a safe one!</p>
Comment sent via Facebook
12:26
113631290
<p>
Jay, an Irish American posted: I'm not a royal hater, and i believe there's a very important place for Her Majesty. But that place is NOT Ireland.</p>
Comment sent via YOURSAY
12:22
113631290
<p>
‎gideon2000uk‎ posted on Twitter: IMF chief sent to tough NY jail ... A disaster for US-French relations. What if he's innocent?</p>
Comment sent via unknown: 23129
12:22
113631290
<p>
SirSocks posted on Twitter: Did Strauss-Kahn really do that? I share French incredulity. This could blow up into massive crisis in French/US relations.</p>
Comment sent via unknown: 23129
12:18
113631290
<p>
Joseph in Zambia: We all seem to forget that he is innocent until proven otherwise, by a competent court. Let the courts decide and then we decide.</p>
Comment sent via Feed
12:18
113631290
<p>
Usaparma tweets: I think DSK has been humiliated & punished enough. He is not a murderer or terrorist. He's not perfect but I do feel for his family.</p>
Comment sent via Facebook
12:15
113631290
<p>
Khaleb in Uganda: i believe he should be given special treatment.A man of his stature and influence is definately going to be looked at differently by the other in mates. He should be put under house arrest at least, pending further investigations into the matter.Lets not make judgements before we get all the facts of this case.</p>
Comment sent via YOURSAY
12:14
113631290
<p>
Margit11 tweets: He may well be guilty but as a European I find the treatment of DSK in the US disgraceful. Detention centre? Humanity and respect?</p>
Comment sent via YOURSAY
12:07
113631290
<p>
Ron W posted on the New Yorker: Interesting that DSK is not trying for the diplomatic immunity to which he is apparently entitled.</p>
Comment sent via Feed
12:11
113631290
<p>
TayTay_Daily in France tweeted: DSK was humiliated in front of the world. This is against the law in France, no matter what he did so stop insulting us!</p>
Comment sent via YOURSAY
12:09
113631290
<p>
Reduction posted on the New Yorker: It is so interesting how Americans think that all the French are somehow so into sex. Not true. In fact, many people in France really disdain this kind of thing as a product of media complicity with the powerful. One writer in Paris today celebrated the American media's reaction, and stated that, "the heads of the world are not untouchable ; there the complacence to not speak of the conniving between politicians and the media does not exist."</p>
Comment sent via unknown: 23129
12:08
113631290
<p>
Ghregr posts on the New York Times: We are a little too quick to judge and it's a little too easy to destroy a person based merely on one person's accusations. Only two people know what really happened in that room and they don't agree, which is why we have trials and juries and why this rush to judgment is so unfair.</p>
Comment sent via Facebook
12:06
113631290
<p>
Miriam posts: He shouldn't get special treatment. However neither should his position be used against him.</p>
Comment sent via host
11:40
113631290
We''re on air now talking about ongoing reaction to the case of Dominique Strauss-Kahn. We''ll also be hearing from people in Ireland, where the Queen is visiting today. It''s the first time a British monarch has visited the Republic of Ireland. You can post your thoughts and comments on these stories here.
On air at 1100GMT: What does the DSK case reveal about France?
| Tuesday, 5 May 2011 | 12:00 - 12:30 GMT
Despite the offer of $1million bail Dominque Strauss-Kahn, the head of the IMF, was forced to spend last night in the tough New York Rikers Island jail. He was arrested on Saturday boarding a plane after being accused of trying to rape a hotel maid. The court said for this reason it was a risk he would skip bail. He denies the charges.
He faces seven charges and could be jailed for up to 25 years if found guilty. Is Rikers Island jail the right place for him? Should a prisoner like DSK get special treatment?
It's a huge turn round of events. He was seen as a frontrunner in next year's French Presidential election, the Times newspaper reports a former close colleague of Strauss-Kahn saying (subscription only)
"He is on the same level as the head of state of any of the G8 countries. This is why his arrest has come as such a shock. When you are in that position you think about every move you make"
DSK, Dominque Strauss-Kahn and Rikers island are all trending worldwide on twitter.
There's been shock in France at seeing Mr Strauss-Kahn handcuffed on TV. In France it is illegal to show pictures of people accused of crimes, but not convicted.
Gilles Klein, a French social media journalist, who joined us on yesterday's World Have Your Say, said the US hard line approach with Dominque Strauss-Kahn was the Americans way of getting back at France over the Iraq war.
Will this put further pressure on the American French relationship?
And critics are now asking whether the media in France is shielding the political elite,
"It raises the uncomfortable question in the French media and politics of two parallel worlds: what is printed, and what is behind it, gossip, and what must officially remain "unsaid".
Your comments
Comment sent via unknown: 23129
<p> Jason A Stein tweets: I don't agree with those questioning cost of the visit. #Obama's visit in a few weeks will probably cost more</p>
Comment sent via unknown: 23129
<p> Khan Bapa, posted on Twitter: Wow, the Queen's visit to Ireland is costing 拢26.2million in security. Surely doing it via video link would've been more cost effective?</p>
Comment sent via YOURSAY
<p> Padraig in Dublin emails: I think the Queen's visit is a two sided coin. It's great for the growth of both countries and necessary if we're ever to leave the past in the past, but at the same time a lot of the Irish population, myself included, feels an apology is needed for bloody Sunday.</p>
Comment sent via unknown: 23129
<p> Shane in Tipperary emails: I think it's marvellous that the queen is visiting Ireland. However, even in the towns she's visiting, very few people will get to see her. There will be a 7-km cordon around Cashel for example, and no one will be allowed in or out without a permit. So although the queen will be a mere 13km away from me, I shan't get to see her. That's a pity, and it detracts from the fanfare for many people.</p>
Comment sent via YOURSAY
<p> Simon in Dublin emails: As an Irishman I am proud to see the Queen of England visiting our Country. I think it is an important day for both our nations and I hope her trip will be a success in every sense of the word.</p>
Comment sent via YOURSAY
<p> Twitty Karen tweets: Welcome to Ireland Queen Elizabeth. I hope your stay here will be a safe one!</p>
Comment sent via Facebook
<p> Jay, an Irish American posted: I'm not a royal hater, and i believe there's a very important place for Her Majesty. But that place is NOT Ireland.</p>
Comment sent via YOURSAY
<p> ‎gideon2000uk‎ posted on Twitter: IMF chief sent to tough NY jail ... A disaster for US-French relations. What if he's innocent?</p>
Comment sent via unknown: 23129
<p> SirSocks posted on Twitter: Did Strauss-Kahn really do that? I share French incredulity. This could blow up into massive crisis in French/US relations.</p>
Comment sent via unknown: 23129
<p> Joseph in Zambia: We all seem to forget that he is innocent until proven otherwise, by a competent court. Let the courts decide and then we decide.</p>
Comment sent via Feed
<p> Usaparma tweets: I think DSK has been humiliated & punished enough. He is not a murderer or terrorist. He's not perfect but I do feel for his family.</p>
Comment sent via Facebook
<p> Khaleb in Uganda: i believe he should be given special treatment.A man of his stature and influence is definately going to be looked at differently by the other in mates. He should be put under house arrest at least, pending further investigations into the matter.Lets not make judgements before we get all the facts of this case.</p>
Comment sent via YOURSAY
<p> Margit11 tweets: He may well be guilty but as a European I find the treatment of DSK in the US disgraceful. Detention centre? Humanity and respect?</p>
Comment sent via YOURSAY
<p> Ron W posted on the New Yorker: Interesting that DSK is not trying for the diplomatic immunity to which he is apparently entitled.</p>
Comment sent via Feed
<p> TayTay_Daily in France tweeted: DSK was humiliated in front of the world. This is against the law in France, no matter what he did so stop insulting us!</p>
Comment sent via YOURSAY
<p> Reduction posted on the New Yorker: It is so interesting how Americans think that all the French are somehow so into sex. Not true. In fact, many people in France really disdain this kind of thing as a product of media complicity with the powerful. One writer in Paris today celebrated the American media's reaction, and stated that, "the heads of the world are not untouchable ; there the complacence to not speak of the conniving between politicians and the media does not exist."</p>
Comment sent via unknown: 23129
<p> Ghregr posts on the New York Times: We are a little too quick to judge and it's a little too easy to destroy a person based merely on one person's accusations. Only two people know what really happened in that room and they don't agree, which is why we have trials and juries and why this rush to judgment is so unfair.</p>
Comment sent via Facebook
<p> Miriam posts: He shouldn't get special treatment. However neither should his position be used against him.</p>
Comment sent via host
We''re on air now talking about ongoing reaction to the case of Dominique Strauss-Kahn. We''ll also be hearing from people in Ireland, where the Queen is visiting today. It''s the first time a British monarch has visited the Republic of Ireland. You can post your thoughts and comments on these stories here.