Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former IMF chief, has been described as "mentally ill" by Michel Rocard, France's highly respected former prime minister.
The 81-year-old elder statesman of the Socialist party delivered his damning verdict in a live TV interview on Monday night.
Mr Rocard - French prime minister from 1988 to 1991 - said it was “clearly medical problems” that drove Mr Strauss-Kahn to become embroiled in repeated sex scandals.
The 63-year-old former head of the International Monetary Fund was recently freed from charges of trying to rape a hotel chambermaid in New York.
Guinea-born maid Nafissatou Diallo, 32, has launched a separate civil lawsuit for sexual abuse, and another criminial complaint in Paris for ‘buying the silence’ of a French woman he ‘abused’ 14 years ago.
Mr Strauss-Kahn also faces more charges in Paris for the attempted rape of young French writer Tristane Banon in 2003.
Mr Rocard told Canal+ television’s Grand Journal news: “This man quite obviously has a mental illness that makes it difficult for him to control his urges.”
He said of Mr Strauss-Kahn - a former frontrunner for the socialist presidential nomination: “It’s a shame, because he is very talented. But I no longer have any faith in his abilities.”
Mr Rocard also described socialist presidential candidate Segloene Royal as ‘not up to the job of president’, adding: “I don’t believe she has the abilities for this high public office.”
Instead he gave his backing to both socialist presidential contenders Martine Aubrey and Francois Hollande.
“They are candidates of quality, and I look forward to working with either of them,” he said.
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