This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-40242531

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 6 Version 7
France election: Macron party set for big parliamentary win France election: Macron party set for big parliamentary win
(about 7 hours later)
The centrist party of French President Emmanuel Macron looks on course to win a landslide victory following the first round of parliamentary elections.The centrist party of French President Emmanuel Macron looks on course to win a landslide victory following the first round of parliamentary elections.
Projections show La Republique en Marche (Republic on the Move) and its MoDem ally set to win up to 445 seats in the 577-seat National Assembly. Projections show La République en Marche (Republic on the Move) and its MoDem ally set to win up to 445 seats in the 577-seat National Assembly.
The final outcome will be decided at a run-off next Sunday.The final outcome will be decided at a run-off next Sunday.
Mr Macron's party was established just over a year ago and many candidates have little or no political experience.Mr Macron's party was established just over a year ago and many candidates have little or no political experience.
With all the ballots counted, Mr Macron's LREM and MoDem had won 32.3% of the vote. After disappointing results, traditional parties have urged voters to support the president's rivals in the second round, to avoid him monopolising power.
The centre-right Republicans had just under 16%, while the Socialists, previously France's ruling party, had won just 7.4%. What are the results?
The far-right National Front (FN) had 13.2%, followed by the far-left France Unbowed on just over 11%. With all the ballots counted, Mr Macron's LREM and MoDem won 32.3% of the vote.
But turnout was sharply down, at 48.7% compared with 57.2% in the first round in 2012, which analysts say reflected a sense of resignation among Mr Macron's opponents. The centre-right Republicans had 21.5%, while the far-right National Front (FN) had 13.2%, followed by the far-left France Unbowed on just over 11%.
French political map redrawn - Hugh Schofield, BBC News, Paris The Socialists, previously France's ruling party, and their allies won just 9.5%. Projections showed them losing up to 200 seats.
But turnout was sharply down, at 48.7% compared with 57.2% in the first round in 2012, which analysts said reflected a sense of resignation among Mr Macron's opponents.
Only four seats were settled on the first round. In the run-off vote next Sunday, the other seats will be disputed by the two top-placed contenders and any other candidate who won the support of at least 12.5% of registered voters in the district.
The election took place amid heightened security after a series of devastating terror attacks in recent years.
Can Macron's new party win majority he needs?
What are Macron's new policies?
French political map redrawn: Hugh Schofield, BBC News, Paris
There can be no disputing the extraordinary achievement of Emmanuel Macron. Yes, he has certainly had luck but he has also foreseen with uncanny clarity how - with the right moves at the right places at the right times - the map of French politics was waiting to be redrawn.There can be no disputing the extraordinary achievement of Emmanuel Macron. Yes, he has certainly had luck but he has also foreseen with uncanny clarity how - with the right moves at the right places at the right times - the map of French politics was waiting to be redrawn.
If the projections from the first round are sustained, then the change that is about to happen to the National Assembly is as big as the one that occurred in 1958 when Charles de Gaulle brought in the Fifth Republic.If the projections from the first round are sustained, then the change that is about to happen to the National Assembly is as big as the one that occurred in 1958 when Charles de Gaulle brought in the Fifth Republic.
Scores, hundreds, of new MPs will be arriving who have never set foot in a debating chamber of any kind, let alone the country's legislature.Scores, hundreds, of new MPs will be arriving who have never set foot in a debating chamber of any kind, let alone the country's legislature.
It is all liable to bring a rush of blood to the head, and the greatest danger right now for Macron and En Marche is hubris. The victory is no doubt spectacular but so far it has all been electoral.It is all liable to bring a rush of blood to the head, and the greatest danger right now for Macron and En Marche is hubris. The victory is no doubt spectacular but so far it has all been electoral.
Phase two of the Macron master plan - actual reform - is the next challenge. And bigger.Phase two of the Macron master plan - actual reform - is the next challenge. And bigger.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel congratulated Mr Macron on the "great success" of his party. It was a "vote for reforms", tweeted (in German) her spokesman, Steffen Seibert. What has the reaction been?
Mr Macron, 39, defeated FN leader Marine Le Pen in the presidential run-off last month. François Baroin, head of the Republicans, said the low turnout testified to the "deep divisions in French society" and was "extremely worrying".
He needs a majority to push through the changes that he promised in his campaign. FN leader Marine Le Pen blamed her party's poor performance on the low turnout, saying France's electoral system, which favours larger parties, needed to be reformed.
He has already left an impression around the world, in particular for standing up to US leader Donald Trump on issues like climate change.
After the projections were announced, a government spokesman said voters had shown they wanted to move fast on major reforms.
But François Baroin, head of the Republicans, said the low turnout testified to the "deep divisions in French society" and was "extremely worrying".
Marine Le Pen blamed her party's poor performance on the low turnout, saying France's electoral system, which favours larger parties, needed to be reformed.
"This catastrophic abstention rate should raise the question of the voting rules which keep millions of our compatriots away from the polling stations," she said."This catastrophic abstention rate should raise the question of the voting rules which keep millions of our compatriots away from the polling stations," she said.
Socialist leader Jean-Christophe Cambadélis lost his seat in the first round.Socialist leader Jean-Christophe Cambadélis lost his seat in the first round.
He warned voters against giving LREM an absolute majority next Sunday, saying it would result in "virtually no real opposition and we will have a National Assembly without any real counterbalance, without a democratic debate and not worthy of that name".He warned voters against giving LREM an absolute majority next Sunday, saying it would result in "virtually no real opposition and we will have a National Assembly without any real counterbalance, without a democratic debate and not worthy of that name".
Elsewhere, German Chancellor Angela Merkel - who, like Mr Macron, has a pro-EU stance - congratulated him on the "great success" of his party. It was a "vote for reforms", tweeted (in German) her spokesman, Steffen Seibert.
Macron's meteoric rise
Is Macron the anti-Trump?
What are the challenges for Macron?
Mr Macron, 39, defeated Marine Le Pen in the presidential run-off last month.
He needs a majority to push through the changes that he promised in his campaign, which include:
He has already left an impression around the world, in particular for standing up to US leader Donald Trump on issues like climate change.
After the projections were announced, a government spokesman said voters had shown they wanted to move fast on major reforms.
Those standing for LREM come from all walks of life and include students, retired citizens and a bullfighter.Those standing for LREM come from all walks of life and include students, retired citizens and a bullfighter.
To win in the first round, candidates had to gain at least 50% of the vote.
The election took place amid heightened security after a series of devastating terror attacks in recent years.