BonjourParis France News Daily May 23-29

Member of Sarkozy’s cabinet resigns to fight sexual harassment charges

BonjourParis France News Daily
Dali Wiederhoft
Paris, May 29—Georges Tron, a junior member of President Nicolas Sarkozy‘s cabinet, resigned his post today, stating he intends to focus on his defense against sexual harrassment charges filed by two female coworkers. Tron has denied the allegations and said he intends to fight the claims.

AFP reported today that the 53-year-old Tron said in his resignation letter to President Nicolas Sarkozy that he would defend himself against charges, calling his accusers “inveterate liars” who were previously released from their positions for fraud and “undignified behavior.”

Tron is also the mayor of Draveil, a Paris suburb. On Wednesday two female coworkers filed police complaints alleging Tron assaulted them while giving them foot massages in his office in the years 2007-2010. According to The Telegraph [UK], both women said the foot massages went from therapeutic to “very real sexual attacks.”  Both said they tried to commit suicide after the alleged harassment.

Tron practices reflexology and The Telegraph [UK] reported Tron’s “passion for reflexology has reportedly earned him the nickname “the foot fetishist” and the “Chinese masseur” of the National Assembly. A minister said that he must have massaged “a thousand feet” —almost exclusively those of women.”

RFI reported the women also accused a female deputy mayor of being involved in the incident.

Tron is a member of the UMP party led by Sarkozy.

Photo source

Plans for new Grand Paris super metro line approved today

BonjourParis France News Daily
Dali Wiederhoft
Paris, May 26—In the year 2013 Paris will start building a new super metro system that loops Paris in a project slated to cost over 20 billion euros, according to Les Echos.

Today Société du Grand Paris (SGP) approved plans created by state, regional and local transit officials in response to a directive issued by France President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2009. The proposed transportation network connects suburbs, Orly and CDG airports. If approved, work starts in 2013 with parts of the network in use by the year 2018. Experts forecast that when completed in the year 2025, approximately 2 million passengers will use the system daily.

The Conseil d’Etat will then review plans for approval expected in July.

Look for more about this story in the BonjourParis Sunday weekly France news report.

DSK moves to luxury TriBeCa townhouse, will pay $50,000 monthly rent

BonjourParis France News Daily
Dali Wiederhoft
Paris, May 26—Dominique Strauss-Kahn moved to a luxury TriBeCa townhouse, according to La Provence. DSK is still under police monitoring in New York while he waits to face charges that he sexually assaulted a hotel maid on May 14.

Real estate agents describe the TriBeCa townhouse as a three bedroom, four bath loft. The photograph accompanying the article indicates the monthly rent is $50,000 per month.

DSK’s next court appearance is scheduled for June 6. He is allowed to leave the townhouse only for legal or medical appointments or weekly religious worship.

On Wednesday DSK’s attorneys responded to previous media stories that reported DSK’s friends had offered cash to the victim in exchange for silence. Lawyers said no representative of DSK has contacted the victim or members of her family.

Paris Métro fares and Navigo cards going up on July 1; National taxi strike today

BonjourParis France News Daily
Dali Wiederhoft
Paris, May 25— Le Parisien reported today that Paris transit fares are rising again and zones 5 and 6 are merging to create a new zone 5 effective July 1.

Zone 6 will be merged with current zone 5, resulting in a 13.7€ savings for monthly Navigo card users who previously bought a pass for zones 1-6. The article briefly mentioned that young people can ride for free starting in September.

If approved, on July 1 the price of Navigo monthly cards used by most Paris visitors and locals for Zones 1-2 (city center) will increase to €62 from €60.40, €80.30 for Zones 1-3, €98.20 (zone 1-4) and no change for the new zone 1-5 that includes current zones 5 and 6. That fare is €109.90. The price for a book (carnet) subway tickets will rise 4.17% to €12.50.

In other news from Paris, there was a brief taxi strike today. Drivers are protesting the lack of respect for the profession, high costs to fuel and maintain taxis and concerns about transporting sick passengers.

France Soir news and video here:

Digital world leaders meeting again today in Paris for Day Two of eG8 forum

BonjourParis France News Daily
Dali Wiederhoft
Paris, May 25—Digital world leaders met again today in Paris for Day Two of the eG8 forum.

Ironically, speakers stressed the importance of freedom of speech on the Internet and social media on the eve of G8 meetings in Deauville to discuss Internet controls. The New York Times today reported that G8 leaders intend to call for stronger Internet regulation.

Presenters include representatives of leading social media companies Facebook, Google and Twitter and Arab international reporting entities that quoted bloggers and twitter messages when covering recent uprisings. Also present were Alec Ross, senior advisor of innovation for Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and social media activists like Nadine Wahab, the blogger who reported from Cairo during the recent Egypt pro-democracy uprising.

On Tuesday President Nicolas Sarkozy opened the two-day forum by commenting that social media allowed private citizens in Tunisia and Egypt to virtually gather supporters that broke real barricades.

“The Internet had become, for freedom of expression, a vector of unprecedented power,” Sarkozy was quoted in linternaute as saying.

However, Sarkozy rankled those in attendance when he warned that “some degree of government regulation was inevitable to avoid ‘democratic chaos.'”

Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, reviewed the role of the Internet in recent democracy revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia. Zuckerberg said “Facebook was neither necessary nor sufficient” in the process, adding that Facebook’s role was less important than what was reported by media.

“It would be arrogant for a technology company to claim a role in the protests,” said Zuckerberg at the Tuesday closing session.

Jean–Francois Juillard, of Reporters Without Borders, expressed disappointment that Internet regulation was being discussed as freedom of speech and censorship were not receiving due coverage.

“Nobody talked about imprisoned cyber-dissidents. There is talk of economic growth more than democracy,” said Julliard.

“Sixty countries practice censorship. Before we even talk about regulation, copyright or economic exchange, one must ensure that the Internet remains a free space,” Jullliard remarked after the program.

“Internet is a delicate ecosystem, and it need not be in your hands,” said political activist and blogger Nadine Wahab.

“We all agree there must be the least possible regulation of the contents. And the G8 must make clear whether access to the Internet is a fundamental right or not,” concluded Jean-Francois Julliard.

New York Post reposts DSK’s accuser offered seven-figure cash bribe by DSK’s associates

BonjourParis France News Daily
Dali Wiederhoft
Paris, May 24—The New York Post reported today that friends of Dominique Strauss-Kahn have secretly contacted and made a seven-figure bribe to relatives of DSK’s accuser in exchange for her silence.

The Post quoted a source identified only as “a French businesswoman with close ties” to DSK as saying,  “They already talked with her family. For sure, it’s going to end up on a quiet note.”

The Post source predicted there would be no charges and that DSK would be set free without a victim to testify.

“He’ll [DSK] get out of it and will fly back to France. He won’t spend time in jail. The woman will get a lot of money,” the source told The Post reporter, adding that a seven-figure sum was discussed.

The hotel maid and her teenaged-daughter moved to New York from Guinea in West Africa several years ago after her husband died. She has a sister and brother-in-law in New York and her extended family members live in a remote Guinean village without electricity or telephones and where the average monthly income is $45.

Yesterday France2 reported that forensics results released that prove DSK’s semen was present on the maid’s uniform and a section of carpet in the room. DSK has claimed his innocence, which is contradicted by the presence of his semen and bloodstained bed linens. Today the NY police are denying release of this information, but they are not saying the results are incorrect.

The Post reportedly has learned that DSK sustained a bloody gash on his back when the victim shoved him onto an armoire in self-defense. Bloodstained bed linens are now in evidence.

DSK’s accuser is sequestered with police protection and the District Attorney’s office monitors her telephone calls. Her local relatives have been advised by the DA’s office not to accept calls from DSK’s associates.

Prosecutors say they have enough evidence to prosecute DSK without the victim’s testimony, including her videotaped statement, grand-jury testimony, statements from fellow hotel employees and semen samples found on her uniform and hotel room carpet.

DSK remains under electronic monitoring and is looking for a new place to stay after cooperative owners at 71 Broadway made it clear he is unwelcome. Source and full story.

French headlines: forensic tests confirm DSK’s DNA found in semen on maid’s clothing

BonjourParis France News Daily
Dali Wiederhoft
Paris, May 23—French media headlines and bulletins report that forensics tests have found Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s DNA on the clothing worn by the chamber maid who claimed he sexually assaulted her in a New York hotel on May 14. This test does not confirm an assault, but it does confirm sexual activity that DSK has denied. DSK posted $1 million cash bail, $5 million bond and he is under 24-hour, guarded-home confinement in New York.

Images of French media online tearsheets are posted blelow.

French sources: Le Monde, France2 News, Atlantico, Le Figaro and others.