French culture on trial following arrest of DSK?

International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn appears for his arraignment in federal court May 16, 2011 in New York City. Strauss-Kahn was arraigned today and is being held without bail on charges of sexually attacking a maid at a Manhattan hotel.

France is reeling from news that one of its most revered politicians, Dominique Strauss-Kahn (DSK), was arrested Saturday for allegedly attacking a chambermaid in his hotel room in New York. Strauss-Kahn, chief of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), was refused bail on Monday and remanded to jail, where he’s expected to remain until his next court appearance on May 20. He is charged with attempted rape, sex abuse, a criminal sex act, unlawful imprisonment and forcible touching. The most serious charge carries up to 25 years in prison. Strauss-Kahn has denied all charges. French President Nicholas Sarkozy responded cautiously, saying the presumption of innocence must be maintained and the courts must be allowed to do their job. But of course the court of public opinion is already churning – and DSK isn’t the only one on trial. Some critics argue that he’s a known womanizer and that the French are too accepting of bad behavior from their politicos. NPR’s Eleanor Beardsley joins us from Paris to talk about the café chatter and what impact this story might have on French politics and culture.

France is reeling from news that one of its most revered politicians, Dominique Strauss-Kahn (DSK), was arrested Saturday for allegedly attacking a chambermaid in his hotel room in New York. Strauss-Kahn, chief of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), was refused bail on Monday and remanded to jail, where he’s expected to remain until his next court appearance on May 20. He is charged with attempted rape, sex abuse, a criminal sex act, unlawful imprisonment and forcible touching. The most serious charge carries up to 25 years in prison. Strauss-Kahn has denied all charges. French President Nicholas Sarkozy responded cautiously, saying the presumption of innocence must be maintained and the courts must be allowed to do their job. But of course the court of public opinion is already churning – and DSK isn’t the only one on trial. Some critics argue that he’s a known womanizer and that the French are too accepting of bad behavior from their politicos. NPR’s Eleanor Beardsley joins us from Paris to talk about the café chatter and what impact this story might have on French politics and culture.

Guest:

Eleanor Beardsley, NPR Correspondent in Paris