An Issue of Image: France in Handcuffs

It’s a strong image. Is it too strong? For the majority of French people, several hours after its release by the major American news organizations, followed by the Internet, the photographs of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, arrested and handcuffed like a criminal between two policemen, displayed an uncalled-for amount of aggression. One that was inconceivable to those aware of the place that persons of power and high-ranking politicians occupy in the individual and collective conscience of France.

An image made “more aggressive,” said others indignantly, as it is a chambermaid of the Sofitel Hotel who is said to be the victim of the alleged assault. There are indeed some serious questions to be asked about perceptions and priorities in America, the land of human rights — and, more specifically, about the morals and values of the political-media class.

By handcuffing DSK, the NYPD has not merely restrained an “alleged perpetrator.” It has reduced the entire “free nation” of France to forced contention.

This is a completely inconceivable position for a large majority of French people, intrinsic free-thinkers, libertarians and Beaumarchists by allegiance. Hence the shock; hence the denial.

The presumption of innocence and the right to a private life, dearly valued by French politicians, cannot alone sufficiently justify the silence, extreme doubt and waffling of the media and political circles in France.

On the one hand, they stand up and accuse the American justice system of treating DSK like a common brute, accused under general law, without taking his stature nor what he represents into account. On the other hand, those in affected groups allege that this case is not pertinent to politics, but to private life, thus necessitating “dignity and discretion.” Could you get any more French than that?

Should we take offense at this? Judge? Intervene?

Of course, because this entire case and the shock undergone by the French hides a truth that very few yet envisage — a repulsive truth that France does not want. In a survey, 57 percent of participants asked do not believe that DSK is guilty, and above all, imagine an odious and hypothetical plot (both international and French) drawn up to destabilize initially the head of the IMF and with the same blow, the future champion of the 2012 presidential election. A scenario worthy of Hollywood, ideal to keep heads in the clouds — to avoid staying in the sand — and to forget reality.

And it’s precisely this in the eyes of some that “justifies” the lack of apparent consideration shown toward the “victim.” Over here, this causes a disturbance and triggers the wrath of many foreign commentators and editorialists, the most prominent of which is that of Denise Bombardier, of this newspaper and of the radio station France Inter.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s lawyers are already preparing for battle and promise to completely discredit the “alleged victim.” No one doubts that they will succeed and in doing so will allow DSK and a part of France to wash their hands of this dirty business.

Among the thousands, one online comment caught my eye: “While we’re waiting, I think that the media should move on to something else, because all this isn’t too pretty.”

Move on to something else: That’s exactly what the majority of the French political class, from both the left and the right, have done, without even a tentative compassionate thought toward the “so-called victim,” should the latter’s victimization turn out to be not quite so doubtful.

The presumption of innocence, it seems to me, does not authorize the admission of indifference.

True to his image as a “champagne socialist,” now living in a gilded prison costing $50,0000 per month (Strauss-Kahn’s idea of the left no longer has anything to do with Mendès France’s), DSK is hoping for a verdict of not guilty. Accused of sexual assault and attempted rape, from this point on he faces an uncompromising justice system: the American one. The stakes are high.

However, he benefits from an incredibly important support for his image in France, the silent or lukewarm reactions from the political and media circles and a section of the French population who, as a whole, have already given him the benefit of the doubt against a “possible breach of conduct.”

After all, as Jack Lang, former minister of Culture under François Mitterand said, “It’s not as if anyone died!” This boggles the mind.

In Paris, fingers are crossed while waiting for the verdict. But, even if sentenced, DSK wouldn’t be unanimously condemned. Doubt would persist, and aspersions would be cast upon the American justice system.

Then, as wished for in that online comment, we would move on to something else.

Then, handcuffed France may well find its arrogance muzzled.