Sarkozy Benefits from IMF Sex Scandal

PARIS—Sexual-assault charges leveled earlier Sunday against Dominique Strauss-Kahn are likely to force the International Monetary Fund chief out of next year's French presidential race, a contest in which he was considered a top contender, boosting the re-election chances of President Nicolas Sarkozy.

Only hours after Mr. Strauss-Kahn was apprehended and charged in New York—and with the IMF chief's lawyer saying that he would plead not guilty to the charges—French politicians said that his presidential ambitions were now dashed. "Whatever the outcome of the procedure is, he will not be able to run for president," said Jacques Attali, a former advisor to France's late Socialist president Francois Mitterrand.

French government said they would await the results of U.S. judicial procedures. "The French government respects two simple principles. Firstly there is a judicial process under the authority of US justice. Secondly, we respect the presumption of innocence and you understand we won't go any further in our comments," said Francois Baroin, a government spokesman and budget minister.

Still, France's Socialist Party was in shock after news of Mr. Strauss-Kahn's arrest was broadcast on the radio and television early on Sunday morning. Mr. Strauss-Kahn hadn't even announced that he would run in his party's primaries later this year, though he was widely expected to do so and to have the best chance to make it into the general race against Mr. Sarkozy.

Now, however, the Socialist Party primaries are likely to pit the party chief—Martine Aubry—against a former party head, François Hollande. Neither is seen as having the experience or international stature that Mr. Strauss-Kahn had, and both would be considered weaker candidates against Mr. Sarkozy in the general election.

"It's a lightning bolt," said Ms. Aubry, the party chief, told reporters on Sunday. Ms. Aubry had recently said she wouldn't participate in the Socialist primaries if Mr. Strauss-Kahn were better positioned in opinion polls.

"We are shocked," added leading Socialist figure Ségolène Royal, who lost to Mr. Sarkozy in the 2007 elections.