Strauss-Kahn not among Socialist presidential candidates
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Xinhua, July 18, 2011
Dominique Strauss-Kahn, ex-leader of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), will not be in the running for the Socialist Party's presidential candidate, local media quoted a Socialist official as saying on Sunday.
Jean-Pierre Mignard, an organiser of the party's primaries, told Le Parisien newspaper that the filing deadline already ended for everyone, including Strauss-Kahn, who is still struggling with his judicial trouble of sexual assault allegation in the United States.
Strauss-Kahn was once believed to be the most potential runner to challenge incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2012 presidential election.
When Strauss-Kahn was accuse of attempting to rape a hotel maid in May, there were talks that the party's primaries could delay to wait as he was deemed as the Socialist's leading runner who was likely to win most ballots.
Furthermore, rumours were fuelled that the ex-IMF chief would return to lead the party after he was released from home arrest without bail despite of the fact that he is confined within the U.S. territory so far.
However, the party closed the date as it planned on July 13 with its primary due on Oct. 9, leaving no chance for the scandal-ridden French politician to fight on behalf of the socialists.
Nevertheless, Strauss-Kahn can still announce his participation into the presidential election as an independent if he manages to collect 500 signatures to get on the ballot before March 16, 2012.
According to the party, six candidates will contest in its primary running, including Party Secretary Martine Aubry, former secretary Francois Hollande, former candidate Segolene Royal and three parliament member Manuel Valls, Arnaud Montebourg and Jean-Michel Baylet.
