Less than a week after it's claimed Dominique Strauss-Kahn raped a hotel maid, he has stood down as head of the IMF. He strenuously denies the allegations, but says he wants "to protect this institution"
It comes after Timothy Geithner, the US Treasury Secretary, told New York's Harvard Club that Strauss-Kahn is "obviously not in a position to run the IMF" and should be formally replaced as the fund's head.
His resignation raises a number of questions.
We are still in the middle of a serious financial crisis, being felt hardest in Portugal, Spain and Greece. His supporters think without DSK at the helm of the IMF, there will be consequences for the global economy. Should the crisis have taken precedence and he remained in the job?
What about the presumption of innocence until proven guilty? A poll out today shows that 6 out of 10 French people do not believe the allegation and feel he has been set up.
Comparisons between the legal troubles of the film director Roman Polanski and Dominique Strauss-Kahn are being made on both sides of the Atlantic. Could the case of Polanski - given sanctuary in France after fleeing sex charges in the US - have any impact on the fate of the IMF chief?
Prosecutors were among the first to draw parallels between the two cases, arguing in court on Monday that if Dominique Strauss-Kahn were to leave the US, France would be under no obligation to send him back to face trial.
Should DSK have resigned? And who should now replace him?
We'll be getting your reaction at 1100GMT
Your comments
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12:29
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Thanks for your comments and contributions. We''re back with you at 1700GMT.
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12:28
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Kenyi in Juba, South Sudan: He should not resign. What if the court proves him innocent?</p>
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12:28
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Cliff in Zambia: He should have instead resigned for robbing Africa of its resources for the rich white man.</p>
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12:26
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No post in any job is irreplacable. He’s been accused of a serious crime & has 2 deal with that now. Other’s will have 2 make decisions 4 IMF. Amelia london
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12:16
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Charles in Kitwe, Zambia: It's a good thing to do, he's now no longer respected by some people because the case will take a long time and I'm sure he needs to sort this out first.</p>
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12:16
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Mwanje: He's innocent until he's proven guilty but in the meantime resignation is the right decision now. The IMF has an integrity to protect.</p>
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12:13
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Moses in Tororo, Uganda: He took a good option because the case will take a long time to be solved.</p>
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12:13
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Terence: I'm sure his decision was based on the fact that until his case has concluded he can no longer do his job effectively. It's not an admission of guilt as I am sure some people will try to suggest.</p>
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11:59
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Hi there - Ben James here - we''re on air with the 1100GMT programme. DSK has resigned from the IMF - tell us your reaction.
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11:57
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Daniel in Zambia: It's only logical that he resigns now, if only our African leaders would imitate such actions. It's not about the job but the reputation of the entire organisation.</p>
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11:57
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Ben in Tanzania: Where is the 'till proven innocent' in all of this? Everyone is viewing him as a criminal, and not as a suspect.</p>
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11:52
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Hi there - Ben James here - we''re on air with the 1100GMT. DSK has resigned from the IMF - tell us your reaction.
DSK Resigns
| Thursday, 5 May 2011 | 11:44 - 13:44 GMT
Less than a week after it's claimed Dominique Strauss-Kahn raped a hotel maid, he has stood down as head of the IMF. He strenuously denies the allegations, but says he wants "to protect this institution"
It comes after Timothy Geithner, the US Treasury Secretary, told New York's Harvard Club that Strauss-Kahn is "obviously not in a position to run the IMF" and should be formally replaced as the fund's head.
His resignation raises a number of questions.
We are still in the middle of a serious financial crisis, being felt hardest in Portugal, Spain and Greece. His supporters think without DSK at the helm of the IMF, there will be consequences for the global economy. Should the crisis have taken precedence and he remained in the job?
What about the presumption of innocence until proven guilty? A poll out today shows that 6 out of 10 French people do not believe the allegation and feel he has been set up.
Comparisons between the legal troubles of the film director Roman Polanski and Dominique Strauss-Kahn are being made on both sides of the Atlantic. Could the case of Polanski - given sanctuary in France after fleeing sex charges in the US - have any impact on the fate of the IMF chief?
Prosecutors were among the first to draw parallels between the two cases, arguing in court on Monday that if Dominique Strauss-Kahn were to leave the US, France would be under no obligation to send him back to face trial.
Should DSK have resigned? And who should now replace him?
We'll be getting your reaction at 1100GMT
Your comments
Comment sent via host
Thanks for your comments and contributions. We''re back with you at 1700GMT.
Comment sent via Facebook
<p> Kenyi in Juba, South Sudan: He should not resign. What if the court proves him innocent?</p>
Comment sent via Facebook
<p> Cliff in Zambia: He should have instead resigned for robbing Africa of its resources for the rich white man.</p>
Comment sent via SMS
No post in any job is irreplacable. He’s been accused of a serious crime & has 2 deal with that now. Other’s will have 2 make decisions 4 IMF. Amelia london
Comment sent via Facebook
<p> Charles in Kitwe, Zambia: It's a good thing to do, he's now no longer respected by some people because the case will take a long time and I'm sure he needs to sort this out first.</p>
Comment sent via Facebook
<p> Mwanje: He's innocent until he's proven guilty but in the meantime resignation is the right decision now. The IMF has an integrity to protect.</p>
Comment sent via Facebook
<p> Moses in Tororo, Uganda: He took a good option because the case will take a long time to be solved.</p>
Comment sent via Facebook
<p> Terence: I'm sure his decision was based on the fact that until his case has concluded he can no longer do his job effectively. It's not an admission of guilt as I am sure some people will try to suggest.</p>
Comment sent via host
Hi there - Ben James here - we''re on air with the 1100GMT programme. DSK has resigned from the IMF - tell us your reaction.
Comment sent via Facebook
<p> Daniel in Zambia: It's only logical that he resigns now, if only our African leaders would imitate such actions. It's not about the job but the reputation of the entire organisation.</p>
Comment sent via Facebook
<p> Ben in Tanzania: Where is the 'till proven innocent' in all of this? Everyone is viewing him as a criminal, and not as a suspect.</p>
Comment sent via host
Hi there - Ben James here - we''re on air with the 1100GMT. DSK has resigned from the IMF - tell us your reaction.