Boys Club

Double Trouble

Dominique Strauss-Kahn: Profile of ‘Attempted Rape Victim’ Tristane Banon Telegraph UK

Tristane Banon with her lawyer David Koubbi Photo: REUTERSNext question: who is Tristane Banon? Born in 1979 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France’s wealthiest suburb. Daughter of Anne Mansouret, a regional councillor in Upper Normandy and high ranking member of Socialist party. Tristane is the god-daughter of Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s second wife Brigitte Guillemette. Was (not now?) a close friend of DSK’s daughter Camille. After graduating from journalism school she worked at Paris-Match and Le Figaro.

Banon has written five books. Her first book was a long essay entitled Erreurs avouées …(au masculine), about the biggest mistakes in the lives of political figures, published in November 2003. It was in conjunction with writing this book that she alleges Strauss-Kahn tried to rape her.

In the US case, many French people believe Mr Strauss-Kahn was the victim of an elaborate political plot – perhaps due to his financial role, perhaps due to his presidential ambitions back home. But given that Miss Banon comes from the bosom of the French Socialist family, it may be harder for DSK’s lawyers to suggest she is seeking to ruin him politically.

For readers not familiar with the French case, Tristane Banon and her mother Anne Mansouret did meet with lawyer David Koubbi immediately after the alleged ‘incident’ in 2002. The records of those meetings exist. Banon’s mother says she advised her not to pursue Strauss-Kahn because it would be bad for both their careers and for the French Socialist party. Banon has hinted at the incident quite directly in public the last few years.

Breaking News: Strauss-Kahn Accuser (the maid) Files Libel Suit. Kenneth Thompson, representing the accuser, filed the claim Tuesday in Bronx state Supreme Court. A series of Post articles over the weekend said the 32-year-old was a “prostitute,” and a “hooker” and that she “traded sex for money.”

A spokeswoman for the NYPost stands by the story.

RedTracker

Lagarde Sworn in at IMF

IMF’s Lagarde Signs Up to Tougher Ethics Code Reuters

Christine Lagarde arrives at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters in Washington DC, 5 July 2011 to take up her post as managing director Photograph: Michael Reynolds/EPAIn assuming her role as head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) today, Christine Lagarde agreed to a significantly higher standard of ethics that that governing Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s actions. She also got a significantly higher starting salary of $467,940 a year, net of income taxes, plus an allowance of $84,000. Strauss-Kahn earned $421,000 annually, with an allowance of $75,350 a year, when he became head of the fund in late 2007.

Christine Lagarde has agreed to pledge her loyalty to the fund in all cases, to avoid “even the appearance of impropriety” and “shall avoid any conflict of interest or the appearance of such a conflict.”

The contract also forbids her from attending political party meetings in a personal capacity or engaging in partisan political activity, a nod by the IMF board to its unhappiness over reports that Strauss-Kahn had attended meetings of France’s Socialist Party while he was managing director.

However, she may be a member of a political party and contribute funds to a political candidate.

Thailand’s New Prime Minister

Yingluck Shinawatra must distance herself from her brother The Guardian

Yingluck Shinawatra –Thaksin Shinawatra’s sister – will become Thailand’s first female prime minister. Photograph: Apichart Weerawong/APThailand elections have brought to power a woman who will become its first female prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra. The American-educated businesswoman came out of nowhere two months ago. She lives in the shadow of a divisive, deposed brother Thaksin Shinawatra now living in exile in Dubai.

In less than two months since she threw her hat into the ring as Thaksin’s proclaimed “clone” and electoral leader of Pheu Thai party, Yingluck has surprised many from near and far. She is a novice but not naive, and ran a deft campaign. With astute handlers and well-orchestrated campaign trails, she was always on script and connected with voters from the downtrodden countryside and urban poor who formed the core of her brother’s loyal fan base.