International & World Report

Wall Street has failed to confirm its rebound on Wednesday. At the close, the Dow Jones unscrewed from 4.62% to 10,719.94 points, the Nasdaq 4.09% to 2381.05 loose points and the S & P lost 4.42% to 1120.76 points. As in Europe, signs of nervousness was palpable. The volume of trade has been very substantial and heightened volatility.

Again, the problems of sovereign debt in Europe have focused attention. Greece plans to expand its exchange program to include obligations of the securities in the longer term, which penalizes first private creditors. As the European markets, particularly the banking sector has been attacked in the image of Bank of America (-9.87%), Citigroup (-8.49%), Goldman Sachs (-7.76%), Morgan Stanley (-7.52%), Wells Fargo (-6.17%) and JP Morgan Chase (-6.13%).

In addition, rumors of worsening debt rating by a French rating agency have affected investors. "These rumors are totally unfounded and the three agencies Standard and Poor's, Fitch and Moody's have confirmed that there was no risk of degradation," however, said the entourage of the French finance minister, Baroin.

"At this stage, investors dizzy," says Oliver Pursche, president of Gary Goldberg Financial Services.

Fear of a recession

In addition, operators are even very concerned about the state of the U.S. economy. Yesterday, the world stock markets have overreacted, and positive against all odds, to about the Fed. This has indeed ensured that it would maintain its rates at a historical low, and until mid-2013 to support the economy.Oil stocks have fallen dramatically and unexpectedly last week in the U.S., according to figures released by the U.S. Department of Energy. Crude inventories fell 5.2 million barrels to 349.8 million barrels in the week ended August 5. Analysts polled by Dow Jones Newswires had forecast the contrary, an increase of 1.1 million barrels.

Note that the budget deficit of the United States continued to fall in July for the fourth consecutive month according to figures released Wednesday by the Treasury Department.The action even reached 10.36 dollars during the session, the lowest price ever since the split with Time Warner in 2009.

Facebook on Tuesday launched a new application for mobile phones iPhone (Apple) and those equipped with the Android operating system (Google) to send messages to his "friends" on social networking, but also to other contacts. Called "Messenger", the application can send both text messages (SMS) and email.

Apple (-2.76% to 363.69 dollars) briefly delighted, yesterday, Exxon Mobil (-4.59% to 67.90 dollars), its position as the first market capitalization.

The American and European leaders were under pressure Sunday to try to agree on a concerted response to the debt crisis in the eurozone and the degradation of the note of the United States. Front line, they seek to avoid further financial market plunge Monday, worried about the slowdown in global growth and spread of the debt crisis in the eurozone. Since Friday, so they stepped up contacts.

• Maintenance of imminent G7 finance ministers. Finance ministers of the G7, which includes the U.S., Germany, Japan, France, Canada, Italy and Britain, have stepped up telephone contacts this weekend in order to develop a common strategy to offer.After heavy turbulence in global financial markets, which lost 2,500 billion during the past week, they must reassure investors about the ability and determination of their countries to reduce deficits and public debts. A telephone conference of finance ministers and central bankers to be held Monday, according to Japanese news agency Kyodo. Interviews are tentatively scheduled before the opening of Asian markets (in the night from Sunday to Monday in Europe).

• A G20 focused on the debt. More broadly, the G20, which groups the world's major economies, contacted by telephone Sunday morning to discuss the consequences of the debt crisis on both sides of the Atlantic. Nothing had filtered from the meeting at noon.Only South Korea said that its confidence in the U.S. Treasury had not changed despite the decision of Standard & Poor's. "There will be no change in the policy of foreign exchange reserves of South Korea," said Vice Minister of Finance.

• The ECB will speak Sunday. Among the tracks in the study is a possible intervention by the European Central Bank, which could buy government bonds in Italy and Spain. This intervention is strongly demanded by the markets payday loans. The European Central Bank Thursday reactivated its share repurchase program of sovereign debt in order to calm soaring interest rates in some countries of the euro area, but has so far bought only small amounts of debt and Irish Portuguese, while speculation is focused on Italy and Spain.If the decision to intervene is taken, the ECB and national central banks will begin to redeem the bond markets open Monday. A meeting of governors will be held Sunday to 18 hours.

• Nicolas Sarkozy met with David Cameron on Saturday. The President, who chairs the G7 and G20 met Saturday evening on the phone for thirty minutes of the financial situation with British Prime Minister. The two men "agreed on the importance of working together to monitor the situation closely and keep in touch in the coming days," said a London spokesman for Downing Street, without giving further details. The discussion between the two leaders has focused on his view "the euro area and the lowering of the rating American."

• Barack Obama called on Europeans Friday night.According to the White House, Bush spoke by phone separately with President Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel about "the latest developments of the crisis in the euro zone" and noted "the importance of [the] implementation "of measures adopted at the summit of the euro area on July 21. The leaders of the eurozone had concerted Friday after finding that the agreement found to cope with the debt crisis had not convinced the markets. If Italy and Spain are at the heart of the turmoil, other countries are also affected such as Belgium.

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Baroin the stage. He keeps repeating the last few days: it will require further cuts in the tax loopholes in 2012. For now, the government planned to cut $ 3 billion. "It is very likely that we will go beyond, as part of the Finance Act," warns the Minister of Economy. Otherwise, the objective of reducing the public deficit (4.6% of GDP in 2012, 3% in 2013) will not be met. The IMF says the same thing Wednesday, in the final version of his report on France, he warned that without additional effort, the deficit "would decline more slowly contemplated" and still reach 3.8% two years.

However, Prime Minister François Fillon reiterated last week even as the French would not have to tighten their belts further.If the IMF is seeking new revenue – or additional savings – is that it considers the government's growth projections too optimistic. He did not table more than 1.9% next year (after 2.1% this year), where the government is preparing its 2012 budget on an assumption of 2.25% (after 2%).

The cost of Greece and Libya

But that's not really what worries Bercy. Growth at 2.25%? "The account will be," says without a doubt a top official of the Ministry of Economy.

However, Bercy identified several elements that could degrade the accounts. First, the second bailout of Greece faxless payday advance. While it will not weigh directly on the deficit of France, as François Fillon stressed. The private sector has agreed to cash a loss equivalent to 21% of the value of the loan granted to Athens.The slate for French banks would exceed 2 billion euros. "We will inevitably income tax on companies and less," admits the Ministry of Economy.

Then "there will be a time when we look at the balance of external operations," Do we loose the ministry. In other words, the commitment of the army in Libya and Afghanistan could be very expensive.

Finally, remember that at Bercy Taiwan frigates affair will cost 460 million euros to France. In early June, after ten years of a bitter legal battle, Thales has indeed been ordered to pay more than $ 800 million in Taiwan, for commissions on the sale of frigates in 1991. The State had brought its guarantee in the contract."Public finances must now endure the heavy consequences of the decision in 1991 to pay commissions, unlike the letter of the contract," Matignon had pointed to the announcement of the court decision. This cost was included in the supplementary budget at the beginning of July. It will, however, offset this expense.

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In the fight against deficits, the prize for creativity back to Hungary. It has introduced a "hamburger tax" which, as its name does not indicate, not only will tax the burgers, which are beyond the last minute. In reality, this new collection in September will affect the crackers and sugary soft drinks high in sugar and packaged cakes.

This offensive against junk food is primarily aimed at combating the scourge of obesity, which affects 18% of the population. "Studies in recent years on the eating habits of Hungarians and health effects show that the problems associated with excessive consumption of fat and salt have increased," says Minister of Economy, György Matolcsy no faxing pay day loans.

This tax also has the advantage of the coffers of a state that really needs.Faced with abysmal deficits, the IMF ordered to redress the balance, the government of Viktor Orban multiplies the creation of new taxes, including banks, telecommunications companies, energy and distribution. Never mind, especially since he swears the "hamburger tax" will finance advertising campaigns on food hygiene.

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Asian stock markets follow divergent paths on Wednesday. Markets are generally reassured by U.S. data released Tuesday, less bad than expected on the price front in the production and sales details. But the reluctance dominates.

In Japan, the Nikkei decides to follow the good mood on Wall Street has ended sharply higher on Tuesday. The benchmark index of the Tokyo Stock Exchange gained 0.28% to 9574.32 points at closing. The Topix, wider, took 0.22% to 824.65 points. Again, the action of the electric company Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO), operator of the nuclear accident in Fukushima, illustrated by a jump of 32.12%, after the government submitted to Parliament Support project to fund compensation for victims. The title had already taken 25% yesterday.

In contrast, Hong Kong and Shanghai are losing ground.The Hang Seng loose 0.39% and the Shanghai Composite was down 0.49%. Investors are troubled by the decision of the People's Bank of China to meet Tuesday to 50 basis points on required reserve ratio of banks, hoping to contain high inflation that poses many economic and social risks. Beijing had announced earlier that consumer prices rose 5 guaranteed personal loan approval.5% in May, an unprecedented growth in nearly three years. The banking sector battered the image of Bank of China (-1.27%) and HSBC Holdings (-1.01%).

The KOSPI Korea following the Chinese markets and decline of 0.17%. Same thing for the Indian Sensex losing 0.31% and the S & P dropped 0.43% Australian. In Australia, the rating is pulled down by the airline industry. Qantas Airways (-1.06%) and Blue Holdings (-3.33%) and are penalized by their decision to cancel domestic flights due to volcanic emissions.

Trend mixed before U.S. crude stocks

The time is also reluctance on the oil markets on Wednesday. In morning trading, a barrel of light sweet crude for July delivery lost 25 cents to 99.12 dollars while that of Brent North Sea crude for delivery rose 49 cents identical to 120.65 dollars.

Investors await the day the report on the status of stocks of petroleum products in the United States. Analysts surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires, crude oil inventories have fallen by 500,000 barrels last week. In contrast, gasoline stocks had risen by 400,000 barrels and distillates (including diesel and heating oil) of 900,000 barrels.

After several months of development, GDF Suez has now officially launched its website for the 218,000 employees of the group, to enable them to support the development of micro-enterprises scattered around the world. While the week of microcredit is nearing completion, this unique initiative could give a fillip to microfinance solidarity.

Specifically, the site presents a selection of projects to be financed in a variety of countries (currently Peru, Lebanon, Senegal, Tajikistan, Cambodia pending, the Philippines and Madagascar). On the basis of information given to them, employees may choose to assist a particular activity: the purchase of pigs, creation of woolen hats, launching a candy … The proposed assistance takes the form of a 0% interest loan of EUR 20 minimum, payable in 6 to 18 months.The money is paid directly online (via credit card or Paypal account) and the loan is secured by local microfinance institutions. After retrieving their application, lenders are obviously free to reinvest or not the amounts paid on other projects. The site is open to employees and everyone who would be invited by employees.

The project has been fully assembled by MicroWorld, a subsidiary of PlaNet Finance, an NGO founded by Jacques Attali in 1998. Until now GDF Suez already funding specific programs through PlaNet Finance (Microfinance & Energy in Morocco and Egypt "Business in Suburbs in France). With this initiative, "Suez regains its banking business," joked Jacques Attali before noting: "Today's world is not socially sustainable.To reduce this gap, democracy is the first medium and the second is to give people the means to achieve ". Knowing that many of them will create their own jobs, he said that credit is a key lever for growth of these enrepreneurs. Even should you avoid some pitfalls: microcredit must learn to go along with ecology to be truly sustainable and must avoid certain abuses observed in India in particular or some companies claiming solidarity finance is much closer to practices of loan sharks.

GDF Suez side, if the group has funded the launch of this initiative and promises of matching shapes subsidized loans, it also recognizes the benefits expected from this operation. Firstly in terms of internal cohesion.The website encourages the creation of virtual communities and circles that can strengthen the bonds within a group and engage the best young troops. And then of course there is the group's image. CEO Gerard Mestrallet has also not stood in the preamble to introduce the launch of the new advertising group whose slogan is "Be good to men" and his view that illustrates the positioning of the company.

This is a first. Nearly 1000 makers and observers of the Internet will meet in Paris tomorrow and Wednesday to participate in e-G8 Forum. Sizing of the digital economy, as Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of social networking site Facebook and Eric Schmidt, Google's president, made the trip.

They rub shoulders patterns of media, such as Australian-American tycoon Rupert Murdoch, the chairman of the New York Times Arthur Sulzberger Jr. The conference will also host the rising stars of the Web as the creator of good plans Groupon Andrew Mason and Mikael Hed, Director General of Rovio, the publisher of mobile gaming success Angry Birds.The world of finance will ambassadors Niklas Zennstrom, CEO and cofounder of the fund Atomico Skype, and Sean Parker, Founders Fund partner today, Co-founder of Napster and Facebook, and bad boy of Web embodied by Justin Timberlake in The Social Network.

This casting will demonstrate the importance of the event. It was proposed by Nicolas Sarkozy, who chairs the G8 this year. For the first time, an Internet discussion has been put on the agenda of the G8, which meets on May 26 and 27 in Deauville. E-G8 Forum should provide a framework for exchanges between heads of state.These will be based on a paper presented at the next G8 e-Forum, which might detail a series of reflections and proposals on major issues of the Internet.

The conference program addresses broad issues as "The Internet and economic growth," which will discuss among others John Donahoe, eBay's CEO, Eric Schmidt, and Christine Lagarde, Minister of Finance. The debate "Internet and Society meet Andrew Mason, Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook's number 2, and Jimmy Wales, founder of the collaborative encyclopedia Wikipedia.To make proposals on these discussions, stakeholders were asked to come up with key ideas that they wished to submit to the representatives of the G8.

Private funding

Issues closer to the everyday concerns of internet entrepreneurs and internet will be discussed in workshops: financing for start-up, freedom of expression and privacy, mobile issues, information sharing and value, e-government … All these exchanges are broadcast live over the Internet, will be summarized by rapporteurs and provide the basis for a "message for Deauville."

The conference was organized in record time by Publicis, whose chief executive, Maurice Levy, was given the mandate in February.Advantage: via its subsidiary Publicis Live, the communications group organizes many events which already meet the tenors of the Web and media, such as the Monaco Media Forum, the Abu Dhabi Media Summit and Davos. These are the links forged during these meetings that enabled convincing, snatching, Mark Zuckerberg to participate in the forum. He has confirmed his arrival a few days before the opening of e-G8 Forum.

In return, Publicis has not been able to rely on public funding to mount the e-G8, whose budget is estimated at 3 million. The organizer has therefore appealed to private financing from a dozen sponsors, including Orange, Vivendi, eBay, Google, Capgemini, Iliad, Microsoft and Alcatel-Lucent.Four other finance a dinner tomorrow evening at the Louvre, in which 350 handpicked guests were invited.

The most important guests of the e-G8 forum:

• Rupert Murdoch – CEO of News Corporation

The media mogul had anticipated the rise of social networking by buying MySpace in 2005. It now relies on paid content online. "Aggregators and plagiarists will soon have to pay a price for our content. If we do not take advantage of the current movement towards paid content, the kleptomaniac triumph "

• Mark Zuckerberg – Founder and CEO of Facebook

At 27, the young prodigy of the Web is the 52nd World fortune, according to Forbes. More than 650 million Internet users have joined the social network he founded in 2004 at Harvard. "The social norm (of privacy, Ed) has simply evolved over time.People are really accustomed not only to share more information, different but also more openly and with more people "

• Jeff Bezos – Founder and CEO of Amazon. Com

It has revolutionized e-commerce by creating Amazon in 1994. He is now going to online media, from books to video. "The last nugget of gold rush has disappeared. With innovation, there is no last nugget. Each update creates new questions and new opportunities "

• Jimmy Wales – Co-founder of Wikipedia

His collaborative encyclopedia celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. It has 18 million articles written and edited by Internet volunteers. "I think MySpace is doomed, I give them another two years … I think Facebook is the next Microsoft, for better or for worse.It is an incredible company that will do much good and bad things "

• Eric Schmidt – Google Chief Executive

DG Internet Group from 2001 to 2011, Eric Schmidt has handed over to Larry Page in April. He remains in charge of acquisitions, partnerships and institutional relationships. "Today your phone knows where you are, and to some extent where you go. Ultimately, your mobile does what he does best is to say, to remember everything and make proposals. You can be a better human and have a good time "

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While the International Monetary Fund is seeking a new general manager following the resignation of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, emerging countries are mobilizing in support of candidates from their ranks. It is "a moment of change" for a non-European leader, has estimated that Friday morning, Angel Gurria, secretary general of the OECD. As of Wednesday, the Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega said that "time is gone when this important post was reserved for a European citizen." Touefois, he has changed his tone on Friday stating that Brazil was ready to support a European candidate for the leadership of the International Monetary Fund if it pursues the reforms of the "democratization" of the financial organization, said Friday the Minister Brazilian Finance Guido Mantega. "There may be good candidates for advanced and emerging countries, including the European Union (…).The important thing is that the new director of the IMF to continue the reforms initiated by Dominique Strauss-Kahn of democratization of the Fund, "said Mantega in an interview published Friday by the daily Folha de Sao Paulo.

For now, the Brazilian seems to have only moderate his speeches since the beginning of the affair Strauss-Kahn. In China, calls for change are increasing. "The time has come to put an end to Western domination on the IMF," said Shan Renping commentator, in an article published in the official newspaper Global Times. Its purpose is thus part of the continuity statements yesterday from the spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Jiang Yu said in effect that "newly emerging markets and developing countries must be represented to the leadership of the IMF."

Shan Renping adds that "one of the main responsibilities of the IMF is to oversee the trade and provide funds to countries in need, capabilities that can provide a growing China." The commentator noted in particular the name of Zhu Min, the former deputy governor of the People's Bank of China, then became Special Advisor to the Director of the IMF, as a potential buyer of the post.

Asia does not seem united enough to push one of its representatives.At a recent meeting of the Asian Development Bank in Hanoi, many are even ministers expressed support for Christine Lagarde, Julius Caesar by Parens, an expert from the Institute for Monetary Affairs in Tokyo.

Other emerging countries are pushing their own candidates

And other emerging countries would indeed one of their representatives take the reins of the institution. Thus, the Mexican Minister of Budget, Ernesto Cordero, supported the candidacy of Governor of the Bank of Mexico, Agustin Carstens, assuring the Mexican press that "it is the best candidate for the IMF."

The Commonwealth of Independent States (former USSR minus the Baltics and Georgia) has decided to propose the head of the Central Bank of Kazakhstan Grigory Marchenko. And many observers are betting on former Turkish Finance Minister Kemal Dervis.

The latter, however, indicated late Friday that day was not a candidate to succeed DSK as Director of the IMF.

Emerging economies will need time to agree on a common candidate and thus be able to weigh into the debate. Enough to explain why the Brazilian finance minister urges that the succession of DSK to head the IMF is not "decided in a hurry." And Wolfgang Schäuble's impatience, the German finance minister, who urged his partners in the European Union to designate someone to bring their colors in the race for the overall direction of the IMF.

Lipsky includes Christine Lagarde among candidates "well qualified"

Since the inception of the institution, the position is traditionally awarded to a European as the World Bank management is entrusted to an American.Thus, if an emerging leader is elected this would be a first for the institution.

While the position raises all desires to the four corners of the globe, American John Lipsky, who has served as Acting, said yesterday that the Board of Trustees will meet Friday to discuss it. He believes that Christine Lagarde is one of the candidates "well qualified" to lead the institution. A view widely shared in France and Europe, where statements of support have multiplied yesterday.

However, John Lipsky has left the door open to candidates from emerging countries, stating that "there is a consensus among our members that the process of appointing the CEO should be open, transparent and must be on the basis of merit. Open means open.Open does not open only to some. "The campaign has only just begun.

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This is an internal letter from the Director of Information Systems (ISD) that senior GDF Suez len heard the news earlier this week. In this internal email which Le Figaro has obtained a copy, Véronique Durand-Charlot announced with "deep regret" that "one ISD staff in Lyon, Éric.C, made a suicide attempt "May 14 last.

According to sources inside the company, the man would set himself on fire inside his car in a parking lot near his home. Third-degree burns, he is reportedly in a coma. "He is in hospital care Edouard Herriot and our doctor is on site since Monday morning," says mail sent by management. The latter adds a psychological support has been established on the sites of Lyon and Saint-Ouen."The regular news on the health of Eric will be provided" to his colleagues, says the letter.

"It is too early to know the reasons for his gesture," we said a spokesman for GDF Suez. "This aa place outside the workplace," he held to be redefined. According to the latter, however, the company has declared a work accident as a precaution in order to "enable the regional health insurance fund to take up the issue and facilitate the support of the family."

A few days after the fact, Eric's colleagues. C are safe for their part that this acting out is directly related to working conditions. This framework would have repeatedly sent emails remained unanswered to his superiors in which he referred to his illness, including the day of his suicide attempt. GDF Suez information that does not confirm."We do not know for letters," says the spokesperson of the group. "He suffered from this violent restructuring implemented since the merger of GDF and Suez (2008, Ed)," says the other hand one of his colleagues.

Reorganization

A plan to transform the ISD, is underway since May 2010. An internal company document, sent to employees by Jean Paul Amoros, deputy director of ISD, is particular to a program of reorganization of the industry over the period 2010-2012. It provides, among other things, aims to "reduce disparities unnecessary and costly for the group," "share know" and "improving the career management of the IF chain.The same document gives a clear picture at the end of 2010, "it remains to be completed sites induced désimbrication with EDF and GDF and Suez merger with which some service offerings still weigh on economic performance."

Specifically, this policy would involve processing the closure of some area sites, including that of Lyon where the employee worked to centralize them in the Paris region. Veronique Durand-Charlot, who oversees these changes, confirmed in a company magazine dated May 2010 the need "to optimize internal operations and to propose a new, more integrated, more effective."

More worrying for the employees, the documents indicate a possible spin-off of ISD services between 2012 and 2014 which could lead to outsourcing of the latter.

"Psychological discomfort"

"This is a management that ignores the human," says an executive of the company. Yves Ledoux, coordinator at GDF Suez CGT refers more generally "psychological discomfort" that prevails throughout the company since the merger of GDF and Suez in 2008. "The takeover of Suez induced mutations. The executives from the GDF have moved from an industrial culture to a financial literacy and there are a lot of difficulties, "said trade unionist. "GDF Suez has signed a national agreement on psycho-social risks but they are not declined in the company. It is a semblance of agreement. "Last March, the CFDT also complained about the "social cost" of higher profits posted by energy group in 2010, "social plans in France, pressure on employment in Hungary or Romania, power losses purchase of group employees. These are not measures of facade that will hide the lack of social ambition, "she railed.

On Thursday, GDF Suez sweeping accusations. "The psychological problems are among the main concerns of the group since the merger," said the spokesman. So far only one employee had committed suicide in 2009 but "had nothing to do with work." Since the merger of both companies, "there was no problem," concluded the spokesman.

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Dominique Strauss-Kahn has been formally charged by prosecutors in New York "sexual assault" and "attempted rape" and "sequestration" a few hours after being arrested at the airport in New York, said Sunday police. The Director of the IMF, which should be presented in the day a judge, plead "not guilty", said one of his lawyers told Reuters. He was still detained at the police station at night in Harlem and should remain there until his transfer to the floor.

DSK was arrested Saturday at 16:45 (local time) at the airport John F. Kennedy, just before his departure for Paris, assault sexuelle.Il was then placed in custody at a police station in Harlem.

According to preliminary information gathered by the New York Times, the incident allegedly took place at 13 pm in a room at the Sofitel Hotel in Manhattan.A cleaning woman, aged 32, had entered the following former minister she thought incoccupée clean. Dominique Strauss-Kahn would be out of the bathroom naked and tried to sexually assault her.

A departure "in haste"

The woman managed to free themselves would be instantly and prevent some members of hotel staff, who contacted 911. When police arrived on site, DSK had already left the scene, leaving his mobile phone and personal effects. According to Paul J. Browne, spokesman for the New York Police quoted by the Associated Press, the head of the IMF seems to have left the hotel "in haste".

Investigators civilian Ports Authority of New York and New Jersey are then left to meet him at JFK airport, where he had boarded an Air France flight that was about to take off."We put him in custody and delivered to the New York Police Department (NYPD) said on condition of anonymity an official of the Ports Authority of New York and New Jersey. The investigation should be conducted by the special unit "Special Victims Unit."

A scandal in 2008

Dominique Strauss-Kahn had to participate Monday at a meeting of finance ministers of the euro area in Brussels, then make a speech Wednesday at the 12th Economic Forum. The IMF has not yet officially reacted to the arrest of its chairman. The Consul General of France in New York was able to meet DSK, BFM TV reported.

In recent weeks, Dominique Strauss-Kahn is the target of criticism in France on his lifestyle, his wealth being scrutinized in the press. He had cons-attack Friday in announcing a lawsuit against the daily France Soir.Following the former minister in the Sofitel was given to 3000 dollars a night, said that under the New York Times.

The IMF director's career was seriously threatened in October 2008 after the revelation of an extramarital liaison with a Hungarian economist of the institution. But Dominique Strauss-Kahn had been cleared of all charges of abuse of power by the Board of the IMF, which had alleged a "serious misjudgment". His star on the French political scene has not faded in this case, DSK continuing to prance in the polls As we approach the presidential election of 2012.