Paris — Leading French presidential hopefuls have distanced themselves from Dominique Strauss-Kahn in the first public debate of the campaign.
The former IMF chief was considered the potential front-runner for next year’s presidential elections until his arrest in New York in May over accusations he tried to rape a hotel maid. The case was dropped last month, but Strauss-Kahn still faces other legal problems.
Leading hopefuls from Strauss-Kahn’s Socialist Party held a televised debate Thursday night. Francois Hollande, who tops polls before the party’s primary next month, shrugged off a question about Strauss-Kahn’s political future.
Other Socialists said there was no reason to discuss Strauss-Kahn.
Strauss-Kahn is expected to speak publicly for the first time since the arrest on French television on Sunday.