Nicolas Sarkozy of all people had to warn DSK before becoming IMF chief that people outside France don't tolerate perverts, indicating that it would bring shame on the nation.
Even if there was no actual rape, the maid wouldn't bring these kind of charges unless he was attempting to invoke his, um... 'natural rights as a Frenchman' upon her in some way. Not unless there was some kind of sinister conspiracy against him from the start.
The notion of DSK having to be warned is quite interesting ultimately. Regardless of the truth of the matter, this whole affair & the revelations that have surfaced as a result of it tap into a very negative stereotype of France & its people.
