French press review 22 August 2011

The situation in Libya as rebels take control of the symbolic Green Square and the latest move in the Domique Strauss Kahn affairs dominate headlines in the French media

“Tripoli, the battle field,” “The net is tightening around Kadhafi,” “Kadhafi is being cornered…”

The fact that Libyan rebels have entered the capital is making headlines across the front pages. So far, all articles are still very factual since it might be a bit early to speculate what’s going to happen next.

Also making the headlines is our dear friend Dominique Strauss-Kahn. “Blanchi?” asks Aujourd’hui en France, which means “will he be free of all charges?” The New York prosecutor will meet with the alleged victim Nafissatou Diallo today, one day ahead of the next hearing. Many speculate that this could be the end of the case and that the charges could be dropped.

There’s a cartoon in the paper that shows Dominique Strauss-Kahn contemplating: “I think the vacations are almost over […] Oh, right, I don’t have a job.” Before he was accused of sexual assault, Strauss-Kahn headed the International Monetary Fund and looked set to run for president here in France.

Many wonder if his political career is in fact over, or if he could make a comeback if the charges are dropped.

Staying with French politics, Libération looks at the socialist candidates not behind bars saying, the economic crisis has rocked their campaign. As they are gearing up for primary elections to determine who will run for president in May, voters want to know how they can and will deal with the current economic situation.

Growth in France is at 0 per cent for the second quarter and workers are beginning to feel the pinch. The paper suggests they (the Socialist party) need to find a common voice on issue if they want to stand a chance of winning the 2012 presidential election.

Communist paper L’Humanité published an exclusive poll this morning, saying 76 per cent of French are against the war in Afghanistan. And 56 per cent say they don’t feel that French troops in Afghanistan can do anything to curb international terrorism.

2011 has already been the deadliest year for the French. In total, 74 soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan, 22 of them this year. Overall, the paper calls the mission “a failure from beginning to end.”

And if you’re looking to get a new job, be careful you don[t get ripped off. According to Aujourd’hui en France, the number of fake offers on the internet is on the rise.

It tells the story of a student who thought he had found an easy, well-paid job sending packages to Côte d’Ivoire, only to find out that the fake company had ordered 50,000 euros worth of mobile phones in his name and using his address.

Also, the paper warns, if such an order is made with a stolen credit card, for example, you are an accomplice. Even if you had no idea about what is going on.

You can move mountains … and according to Le Figaro, the Dutch also want to build them. Apparently fed up with the fact that its highest mountain is just over 300 meters high, a joke is turning into a real project.

They want to erect a 2000 metre high mountain, ski resort included. sclubs like the idea, saying it would give their athletes a place to practice. And engineers and geologists are intrigued by the idea as well.

They will all put their heads together to see what they come up with. No word yet about what the mountain will be made off.