Rice political scientist available to discuss fallout of Strauss-Kahn arrest

CONTACT: Franz Brotzen
PHONE: 713-348-6775
EMAIL: franz.brotzen@rice.edu

Rice political scientist available to discuss fallout of Strauss-Kahn arrest

Dominique Strauss-Kahn will spend the night in a New York-area jail after being denied bail on sexual assault charges. Lanny Martin, associate professor of political science at Rice University, is available to speak to the news media on Strauss-Kahn’s legal troubles and what they might mean for French politics.

“The arrest of Dominique Strauss-Kahn has sent shockwaves through French politics,” Martin said. “He was the clear Socialist front-runner against the deeply unpopular rightist president, Nicolas Sarkozy. His premature departure is not only obviously a boon for Sarkozy, but also for the xenophobic far-right candidate, Marine Le Pen. Like her father a decade ago, she now has a legitimate shot of competing in a runoff election with a sitting president.”

Martin is an expert on legislative institutions, democratic processes and coalition government in advanced industrial democracies.

To speak with Martin, contact Franz Brotzen at 713-348-6775 or franz.brotzen@rice.edu.