( CNN ) -- I have interviewed Dominique Strauss-Kahn many times over the years , usually after an international summit or IMF meeting . The agenda at those interviews was the normal stuff of such events ; debt , deficits and dismal economic performance . The prospect of sitting down with the former IMF chief and asking about personal matters relating to his New York arrest seemed unseemly , and even more odd when it was to be juxtaposed with a discussion on the current economic situation . I worried Strauss-Kahn would be too timid in giving strong views on the eurozone crisis , its leaders and the problems facing the global economy . After all , why should a man now regarded as an outcast of scandal be willing to offend people anymore , especially as he was looking to rehabilitate his image ? READ MORE : Two years later , DSK still smarting over 'perp walk ' But Strauss-Kahn is a man of frank views and , even with the best will in the world , he ca n't help but want to express his opinions . He was part of the troika which negotiated the original Greek bailout in 2010 . He says the European Union 's repeated attempts to buy time has been a `` catastrophe , '' leading to the Cyprus bailout . That , he added , was `` another disaster . '' On the eurozone , he is not afraid to describe the `` crises in leadership '' facing the union , where he says there are `` lions led by sheep . '' I do n't think he had any particular leader in mind , rather a collective process in Europe built in a way that `` no hard decision can be made . '' During the interview , I realize I am speaking with a man who is free of responsibility and not really worried about treading on toes . He knows his place in history will be forever defined by seven minutes in a hotel room in New York and his sexual liaison with a maid there . Charges of rape and sexual misconduct were dismissed after the prosecution admitted the victim involved had a history of lying and was not credible . WATCH : Strauss-Kahn : Europe 's banks are 'sick ' Asking Strauss-Kahn about this is embarrassing ; our interviews until now have always been about economics and financial markets , not arrests and libertine soirees . I try to lighten the moment suggesting there 's no easy way to ask these questions . He recognizes my predicament and quips back : `` There 's no easy way to answer them . '' He is ready for what is coming his way . His anger at being paraded in handcuffs before the world 's press is still palpable . `` A most terrible thing ... .the perp walk takes place at the moment where you are supposed to be innocent , '' he told me . He maintains the events in Suite 2806 are `` private . '' The problem is it 's not only the New York incident . Since then , a series of incidents have been revealed involving sexual behavior which suggests gross errors of judgment , not expected of people in high office . `` I agree , I agree , '' he tells me . He calls it a `` mistake '' to `` believe you could have a public life ... ..and that you can have a private life . '' Opinion : DSK is back - anyone feel sorry for him ? He added : `` I have a problem with understanding what is expected from politicians of highest levels . '' For someone who has been in the public eye for several decades , this may seem a remarkable statement . But perhaps not for someone who has been in the cloistered environment of French politics , where private and public are clearly defined and mistresses and `` libertine soirees '' are ignored . Listening to Strauss-Kahn talking about the economic dangers ahead is perhaps the most interesting of our time together . After all , he is considered one of the greatest practical economic politicians of our time , bringing together theory and practice . He has a prescient warning about the forthcoming U.S.-EU trade talks . The U.S. wants to `` dominate the world '' by setting the standards for trade with agreements both across the Pacific and Atlantic , he says . `` The Europeans should not be that naive . '' I am not confident Europe will avoid this fate . Pulling together the strands of our talk , Strauss-Kahn has already said that the EU can not make a decent collective decision . He does n't take it this far , but I suspect he believes those sheep leading the union will lead to a trade slaughter . Our agreed time of half an hour has passed far too quickly . I am left with the impression of a man who has discovered who his friends are and is now finding out what he wants to do next . He says politics does not feature in that future . He is quite clear that he will not run for the French presidency . When asked , he says : `` No , no . '' It could not be clearer . Strauss-Kahn is charming , witty , candid and perhaps cunning . He carries himself with the air of a man unafraid of his life 's next twist . He knows some people will shun him and he says he respects their view . But he also believes there are those who will seek his help and advice . And for them he is ready to serve , politics be damned .
CNN 's Richard Quest has interviewed Dominique Strauss-Kahn many times , but this time the agenda was different . Quest discovered Strauss-Kahn was a man who had struggled with aspects of public life . Strauss-Kahn knew his place in history would be defined by his sexual liaison with a maid in New York . But , after being hit by scandal , Strauss-Kahn is unafraid of his life 's next twist .