THE Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Dominique Strauss-Kahn, is under pressure to resign.
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) said that a call for his resignation came yesterday from Austrian Finance Minister, Maria Fekter.
Meanwhile, her Spanish counterpart, Elana Salgado, gave her support for the victim of his alleged sexual assault.
Strauss-Kahn has been remanded in custody at New York’s notorious Rikers Island jail, following his arrest on Saturday for the attempted rape of a hotel maid.
He was arrested after boarding a plane, prompting the judge to say that Strauss-Kahn, 62, was a flight risk.
He faces seven charges and could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison.
Strauss-Kahn, who had been seen as a favourite in France’s 2012 presidential elections, denies the charges.
The defence offered to post $1 million (£617,000) bail, with Strauss-Kahn to stay at his daughter’s address in New York until the next hearing on Friday. However, Judge Melissa Jackson rejected the application.
“I don’t comment on judicial matters,” said Fekter. “But in view of the situation, that bail has been refused, he himself must deliberate on whether he is hurting the institution.”
The Spanish finance minister added her voice, saying that the IMF head faced “very serious accusations” but that any resignation “is only a decision that Mr. Strauss-Kahn can take.”
However, she went on to express sympathy for the alleged victim of the assault: “If I had to show my solidarity and support for someone, it would be towards the woman who has been assaulted, if that is really the case that she has been.”
Fekter’s comments touched on concerns that, irrespective of the legal outcome, Strauss-Kahn’s detention creates a practical obstacle for his role in negotiating rescue loans for Portugal and Greece.
Strauss-Kahn had been due to attend an EU finance ministers’ meeting in Brussels to discuss financial bail-outs.
The IMF has played a central role in organising rescue packages for the troubled economies of Portugal and Greece.
However, according to the Portuguese finance minister, Fernando Teixeira dos Santos, the IMF head’s absence had not been an issue.
Strauss-Kahn received support from the Luxembourg prime minister and euro group head, Jean-Claude Juncker, a self-professed close friend.
“I’m very sad and upset,” he said. “I didn’t like the pictures I’ve seen on television.”
French Finance Minister, Christine Lagarde, described Strauss-Kahn’s predicament as “crushing and painful.”
The IMF said in a statement that it had been briefed on the charges against its managing director, and that it would “continue to monitor developments.”
The charges relate to an alleged assault at the Times Square Sofitel hotel in New York.
According to the New York Police Department, a 32-year-old maid told officers that when she entered his suite on Saturday afternoon, Strauss-Kahn emerged from the bathroom naked, chased her and sexually assaulted her.
The woman was able to break free and alert the authorities, a NYPD spokesman added.
Later on Saturday, Mr. Strauss-Kahn was detained on board an Air France flight at New York’s John F. Kennedy airport minutes before take-off.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayThe British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) said that a call for his resignation came yesterday from Austrian Finance Minister, Maria Fekter.
Meanwhile, her Spanish counterpart, Elana Salgado, gave her support for the victim of his alleged sexual assault.
Strauss-Kahn has been remanded in custody at New York’s notorious Rikers Island jail, following his arrest on Saturday for the attempted rape of a hotel maid.
He was arrested after boarding a plane, prompting the judge to say that Strauss-Kahn, 62, was a flight risk.
He faces seven charges and could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison.
Strauss-Kahn, who had been seen as a favourite in France’s 2012 presidential elections, denies the charges.
The defence offered to post $1 million (£617,000) bail, with Strauss-Kahn to stay at his daughter’s address in New York until the next hearing on Friday. However, Judge Melissa Jackson rejected the application.
“I don’t comment on judicial matters,” said Fekter. “But in view of the situation, that bail has been refused, he himself must deliberate on whether he is hurting the institution.”
The Spanish finance minister added her voice, saying that the IMF head faced “very serious accusations” but that any resignation “is only a decision that Mr. Strauss-Kahn can take.”
However, she went on to express sympathy for the alleged victim of the assault: “If I had to show my solidarity and support for someone, it would be towards the woman who has been assaulted, if that is really the case that she has been.”
Fekter’s comments touched on concerns that, irrespective of the legal outcome, Strauss-Kahn’s detention creates a practical obstacle for his role in negotiating rescue loans for Portugal and Greece.
Strauss-Kahn had been due to attend an EU finance ministers’ meeting in Brussels to discuss financial bail-outs.
The IMF has played a central role in organising rescue packages for the troubled economies of Portugal and Greece.
However, according to the Portuguese finance minister, Fernando Teixeira dos Santos, the IMF head’s absence had not been an issue.
Strauss-Kahn received support from the Luxembourg prime minister and euro group head, Jean-Claude Juncker, a self-professed close friend.
“I’m very sad and upset,” he said. “I didn’t like the pictures I’ve seen on television.”
French Finance Minister, Christine Lagarde, described Strauss-Kahn’s predicament as “crushing and painful.”
The IMF said in a statement that it had been briefed on the charges against its managing director, and that it would “continue to monitor developments.”
The charges relate to an alleged assault at the Times Square Sofitel hotel in New York.
According to the New York Police Department, a 32-year-old maid told officers that when she entered his suite on Saturday afternoon, Strauss-Kahn emerged from the bathroom naked, chased her and sexually assaulted her.
The woman was able to break free and alert the authorities, a NYPD spokesman added.
Later on Saturday, Mr. Strauss-Kahn was detained on board an Air France flight at New York’s John F. Kennedy airport minutes before take-off.
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