大象传媒

Chris Bowlby profiles France's Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the charismatic head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and a man many say is destined to become the next President of France.

When Dominique Strauss-Kahn, DSK as he is known, took charge of the IMF in 2007 many thought his political career was finished. A man described variously as a 21st century Metternich, a champagne socialist and a dilettante, DSK had failed in a bid to become the Socialist party's candidate for the 2007 French Presidential election. But his response to the global financial crisis in which he has skillfully positioned the IMF as a key player, has earned him European and international accolades. And in recent months he has played a crucial role in using IMF clout to help stabilize the failing Greek economy. Along the way the man nicknamed "chaud lapin" (hot rabbit) has survived a sex scandal and a very public divorce. Now many commentators, who had written him off politically, are seeing DSK as a strong candidiate to emerge as President when France goes to the polls in 2012.