The arrest of Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the managing director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the United States provoked a general outcry in French politics.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), delivers a speech during a panel discussion in Washington D.C., capital of the Untied States, Feb. 10, 2011.

Considered as one of the most influential politicians in France, Strauss-Kahn is accused of sex assault on a 32-year-old hotel maid on Saturday. A year before presidential election, this shocking case left French politics in disarray, right-wing as well as left- wing.

Poll favorite in scandal

In only one night, all poll forecasts conducted so far lost their value. Given as main favorite for the oncoming presidential election, Strauss-Kahn has been leading the race for months. Considered as President Nicolas Sarkozy's biggest rival, his international stature and his networks contributed to his popularity.

Politicians agree to think that all outcomes can be expected for the Socialist Party. In the latest poll conducted by Harris Interactive for Le Parisien daily newspaper, the IMF director was well ahead of the other presidential candidates.

He gathered the support of 41 percent of Socialist sympathizers, far more than his left-wing peers, Francois Hollande with 24 percent and Martine Aubry with 18 percent. For Francois Hollande, it is a sensitive issue, since the Socialist deputy is aware that he should not take advantage of the situation.

Only one month before the election by the Socialist Party members of their official candidate, due in the end of June, Strauss-Kahn had the support of numerous left-wing leaders. Many talked of a "secret agreement" that tied him to the party's first secretary, Martine Aubry, and prevented them from competing with each other.

As long as this agreement is now on hold, Aubry could enter the race to become the French Socialist Party's official candidate. Others, such as Pierre Moscovici, Gerard Collomb and Manuel Valls, who are faithful supporters of Strauss-Kahn, had said that they might step forward if their leader left the presidential race. They could change strategies, which could multiply the number of candidates at the internal party election, causing divisions.