Paris - Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the disgraced former IMF boss, has made an enigmatic debut on social media with the message: “Hello Twitter! Jack is back.”
Mr Strauss-Kahn, who was acquitted of pimping charges only 10 days ago, caused a storm of curiosity, amusement and fury in the French twittersphere on Monday.
People asked if he was planning a political comeback, but at the age of 66, this would seem highly unlikely.
And what did he mean by calling himself Jack, in the handwritten English message on the picture that he tweeted?
Most commentators thought that this was a reference to Jack Bauer, the fictional hero of the American TV series 24, who emerges intact from endless scrapes.
Other suggested inspirations for the self-created nickname were Jack the Ripper; the 1950s beat novelist Jack Kerouac; or a trendy restaurant in Marrakech whose name is “Jack is Back”. Mr Strauss-Kahn now lives part-time in Morocco.
The latest episode in Mr Strauss-Kahn's controversial career comes after he was cleared of pimping in connection with a series of sex parties after a trial in Lille in northern France.
The case brought to a close four years of disgrace and three unsuccessful prosecutions for sexual misconduct.
It appears the former French presidential front-runner intended to signal the beginning of a new phase in his life and career.
However, many commentators suggested that the decision of Mr Strauss-Kahn - or DSK as he is widely known - to launch himself into social media so soon after his acquittal was arrogant or unpleasant, and should be ignored.
But he has already accumulated 30 600 followers and is following five other Twitter accounts: the economists Joseph Stiglitz and Paul Krugman, The Economist and Financial Times news sites and his new girlfriend, France Television press officer Myriam L'Aouffir.
Mr Strauss-Kahn's second tweet is eagerly awaited.
He is expected to comment on economic affairs and promote his €2m-a-year business as an economics consultant.
The Independent