French Socialists are paving the way for Dominique Strauss-Kahn to return to politics if – as expected – charges of sexual assault against him in New York are dropped on Tuesday, leaving him free to fly home.

Leading members of the Socialist party said a political comeback could be "envisaged" if the 62-year-old former head of the IMF wished to take part in next year's presidential campaign.

Strauss-Kahn was widely tipped to become the next president of France before he was arrested and charged with attacking a maid in a New York hotel four months ago.

Over the weekend, lawyers for Strauss-Kahn's accuser, Nafissatou Diallo, said she had been summoned to a meeting with prosecutors in New York ahead of a court hearing on Tuesday. Diallo's lawyers said they were expecting prosecutors to tell her they were dropping the case.

Although DSK, as he is known in France, missed the July deadline for taking part in the Socialist party's election to select a candidate, the man who replaced him as favourite – François Hollande – opened the door on Monday for his return to politics. Speaking on French radio, Hollande said Strauss-Kahn's return to politics "could be envisaged".

He told France-Inter Radio: "Whatever has been said, a man with the abilities of Dominique Strauss-Kahn can be useful to his country in the months and years to come." . Asked whether Strauss-Kahn could take part in the Socialist primaries, he replied: "That depends on him."

Jean-Christophe Cambadélis, a friend of DSK, said it was too early to say what Strauss-Kahn would do. "It's possible the charges will be suspended and Dominique Strauss-Kahn will be cleared," he said. "This will be justice, because I believe he is innocent of the facts of which he is accused.

"If he is cleared, let him reconstruct himself after the injustice that has been done to him." Asked if Strauss-Kahn could hypothetically ask for the July deadline for candidates to be set aside and stand in the primaries, a party spokesman said: "It's complicated."

He added: "He would need the agreement of all six candidates. It's a very hypothetical situation." Several party heavyweights, including Cambadélis and Pierre Moscovici, had previously suggested the deadline for candidates to declare should be delayed to allow DSK a chance to stand if cleared.

Just as Strauss-Kahn's arrest in May threw the French left into a state of shock and chaos, so his eventual return will almost certainly sow doubt and confusion when the Socialists gather for their annual party conference in the seaside resort of La Rochelle on Friday.

Many of DSK's closest supporters have since thrown their weight behind one of the six declared primary candidates.

Hollande's closest rival is Martine Aubry, who had concluded a secret agreement not to run against Strauss-Kahn for the party nomination before his arrest.

The word most used in French newspapers and magazines on Monday was "blanchi", which literally translates as whitened. As if to emphasise the point, Strauss-Kahn was pictured on the front page of France Soir wearing a whiter-than-white summer T-shirt. The newspaper referred to his "nightmare summer", adding that DSK "intends to leave the United States with his head held high".

Strauss-Kahn's biographer, Michel Taubmann – who is in regular contact with him – told France Soir: "He doesn't want to rejoice too quickly. But for the first time we've spoken about other things than the case."

Even if he is set free, Strauss-Kahn is still facing a possible investigation in France where journalist and writer Tristane Banon, 32, has accused him of attempted rape. She claims he jumped on her and behaved like a "rutting chimpanzee" when she went to interview him in February 2003. A preliminary inquiry is being carried out by the prosecutor's office to see if there is a case to answer. Strauss-Kahn's lawyers have denied the claims and described the allegation as "fantasy".

Concentrating on the New York allegation, France Soir added: "The former presidential favourite is beginning to anticipate his return to home and, one day, to political life." However, Jérôme Sainte-Marie, deputy director of the Paris-based opinion pollsters CSA, said the French may not be so willing to welcome him back with open arms.

He told the Guardian: "Anything can happen, but I think there's little chance he will be able to return to high level politics. It will be hard to turn back the clock." According to CSA polls, before 13 May Strauss-Kahn was in a strong position to win next May's presidential election against Nicolas Sarkozy.

His popularity in the country stood at 50%, with 30-35% of those asked saying they would vote for him in the first round of the presidential election and 60-65% saying they would vote for him in the second round, giving him a clear victory.

His popularity fell to 26% in June but rallied to 32% in July when doubts about the credibility of his accuser led to him being released from house arrest. His figures then dropped to a new low of 25% this month. There was little difference in the opinions of men and women.

Sainte-Marie said: "The fact that 25% of people still have a good opinion of him after all we have learned is surprising, but he was enormously popular to start with.

"The moral aspect of this doesn't matter very much at all. French people don't care about the sex or sentimental lives of their politicians – what does matter is a lack of credibility, a lack of seriousness, particularly at a time of financial storms."

Sainte-Marie said the French had "learned too much" about DSK, who before the incident in the Sofitel in New York had a reputation as a "chaud lapin" (hot bunny) and womaniser.

"French people want someone reliable as president, and however brilliant he is they are not prepared to accept someone who cannot control himself or who puts his personal appetite before affairs of state," Sainte-Marie said.