Dominique Gaston André Strauss-Kahn ,dɔminik stʁos kan, born 25 April 1949), often referred to in the popular press as DSK, is a French economist, lawyer, and politician, and a member of the Socialist Party of France (PS). He became the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on 28 September 2007, with the backing of his country's president, Nicolas Sarkozy.
He is full professor of economics at the Paris Institute for Political Studies ("Sciences Po").
Strauss-Kahn was Minister of Economy and Finance from 1997 to 1999 as part of Lionel Jospin's "Plural Left" government. He belongs to the right wing of the PS (which is on the center-left of French politics) and sought the nomination in the primaries to the Socialist presidential candidacy for the 2007 election, but he was defeated by Ségolène Royal in November 2006.
Political career
Strauss-Kahn was first an activist member of the Union of Communist Students, before joining in the 1970s the Centre d'études, de recherches et d'éducation socialiste (Center on Socialist Education Studies and Research, CERES) led by Jean-Pierre Chevènement, future presidential candidate for the 2002 election. There, he befriended the future Prime Minister of France Lionel Jospin (PS).
After the election of President François Mitterrand (PS) in 1981, he decided to stay out of government. He got involved in the Socialist Party (PS), which was led by Lionel Jospin, and founded Socialisme et judaïsme ("Socialism and Judaism"). The next year, he was appointed to the Commissariat au plan (Planning Commission) as commissaire-adjoint.
In 1986 he was elected deputy for the first time in the Haute-Savoie department, and in 1988 in the Val-d'Oise department. He became chairman of the National Assembly Committee on Finances, famously exchanging heated words with the Finance Minister Pierre Bérégovoy (PS).
Sex scandals
In 2007, Tristane Banon, a French journalist and writer, accused Strauss-Kahn of attempting to rape her in 2002, but she did not press charges. In 2008, an independent investigator was appointed following allegations of an affair with a subordinate, whom he later made redundant and assisted in getting a new job. Three charges were proven over an affair with economist Piroska Nagy, who was married at the time to Mario Blejer. As a result of the affair, Strauss-Kahn was forced to issue a public apology, while Le Journal du Dimanche dubbed him "le grand séducteur" (the Great Seducer).
On 14 May 2011, police officers removed Strauss-Kahn from an Air France plane at New York's JFK airport moments before takeoff to Paris, and arrested him for allegedly sexually assaulting a hotel maid in his suite at the midtown Sofitel New York Hotel shortly before leaving for the airport. He was held at a police precinct overnight and charged with "a criminal sexual act, attempted rape, and unlawful imprisonment". Strauss-Kahn denied all the charges against him, pleaded not guilty, and willingly agreed to a scientific and forensic examination.
The IMF announced on 15 May 2011 that John Lipsky would act as First Managing Director while Strauss-Kahn was in custody.
Personal life
Strauss-Kahn has four daughters and has been married to his third wife, the American-born French journalist Anne Sinclair, since 1991. The couple have a holiday home in Marrakesh, Morocco.
Political career timeline
Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, since 2007.
Governmental functions
Minister of Industry and Foreign trade, 1991–1993.
Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry, 1997–1999 (resignation).
Electoral mandates
Member of the National Assembly of France for Val d'Oise, 1986–1991 (becoming minister in 1991). Reelected in 1997, was minister 2001–2007 (resigned on becoming Managing Director of the IMF in 2007). Elected in 1986, reelected in 1988, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2007.
Regional Council
Regional councillor of Ile-de-France, 1998–2001 (resignation).
Municipal Council
Mayor of Sarcelles, 1995–1997 (resignation).
Deputy-mayor of Sarcelles, 1997–2007 (resigned on becoming Managing Director of the IMF in 2007). Reelected in 2001.
Municipal councillor of Sarcelles, 1989–2007 (resigned on becoming Managing Director of the IMF in 2007). Reelected in 1995, 2001.
Agglomeration community Council
President of the Agglomeration community of Val de France, 2002–2007 (resigned on becoming Managing Director of the IMF in 2007).
Member of the Agglomeration community of Val de France, 2002–2007 (resigned on becoming Managing Director of the IMF in 2007).
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