MEPs’ outrage leads Strauss-Khan to cancel appearance in European Parliament
[Brussels, 21 March 2012] The ex-International-Monetary-Fund-chief Domique Strauss-Kahn has cancelled his appearance in the European Parliament, due to the outrage of MEPs across party lines and gender. He had been invited to a speak about the financial crisis just one day before French prosecutors were to decide whether to press charges over his alleged involvement in a prostitution ring.
"In the name of our struggle for the dignity of women, we are opposing this invitation," Hungarian MEP Zita Gurmai and Belgian MEP Belgian Véronique de Keyser said in an open letter to Parliament President Martin Schulz, asking him to ban the event.
Last month, Strauss-Kahn was held in police custody for two days over his alleged part in a prostitution ring. French prosecutors are to decide on 28 March, one day after the Brussels debate, if they will press charges for pimping and misuse of company funds.
The French case comes less than a year after Strauss-Kahn abruptly resigned from the International Monetary Fund after being arrested and put on trial for allegedly attempting to rape of a hotel maid. The case was later dropped, but the maid is still pressing a civil action.
The meeting - a debate on the financial crisis is organised by a network of ’young’ MEPs called EU40 and led by German Liberal deputy Alexander Alvaro. It also features former European Central Bank chief Jean-Claude Trichet and outgoing Eurogroup chair Jean-Claude Juncker.
President Schulz tweeted on Tuesday evening that he "took note" of the issues raised by the MEPs and that he "passed on concerns to organisers for them to find a solution."
Later in the evening Alvaro tweeted that Strauss-Kahn has declined the invitiation, and the event will feature only Jean Claude Juncker and Jean-Claude Trichet.
Sources: EUobserver, RTL.be
