The Strauss-Kahn Interview: France's Reaction and 5 Take-Aways

Before the rape scandal began, Strauss-Kahn was considered the top candidate to be France's next president.

During the interview, Strauss-Kahn confirmed that he had planned to run for office, and added that he had made "a pact" with prominent fellow Socialist Party member Martine Aubry. The two agreed that whoever was best suited to run during the October primaries would do so.

The former I.M.F. chief is certainly not the best candidate anymore, and now Aubry is one of two Socialist front-runners, along with François Hollande.

Nonetheless, some French critics feel that the scandal, combined with Strauss-Kahn "pact" comments, have irrecoverably damaged the Socialist party in general, and Aubry in particular.

“Do I look like a substitution candidate?" Aubry told France's Canal Plus TV. "The problem was to know who would be a candidate and who was best placed. The decision hadn’t been made [when Mr Strauss-Kahn was arrested] and when the time came, I made my decision and announced mine."

"I am the candidate France needs,” she added.

2) Immoral, but that's it

Strauss-Kahn said he committed a "moral fault of which I am not proud" in that New York hotel room. He did not say that he was guilty of any criminal act, nor he did apologize to the maid, France, or anyone. He did mention the infidelity against his wife Anne Sinclair, calling it “a failing vis-á-vis my wife."

He also brought along the prosecutors' report as both proof and as a prop, proudly displaying it during the questioning.