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| Sarkozy party 'set for landslide' | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Projections after the first round of France's parliamentary elections suggest President Nicolas Sarkozy's party is heading for a landslide. | |
| Polling firms predicted that Mr Sarkozy's centre-right UMP party would increase its majority in the lower house, the national assembly. | |
| Analysts say a big majority would allow the new president to press ahead with his sweeping economic reforms. | |
| The results will not be confirmed until a second round of voting next week. | |
| Turnout was reported to have been unprecedentedly low, at around 61%. | |
| "Many people seem less interested in the parliamentary elections because they think Sarkozy will win a large majority anyway," Mikhael Perez, a 48-year-old voter from Paris told Reuters. | "Many people seem less interested in the parliamentary elections because they think Sarkozy will win a large majority anyway," Mikhael Perez, a 48-year-old voter from Paris told Reuters. |
| The Socialists, whose presidential candidate Segolene Royal lost to Mr Sarkozy, appeared set to lose seats. | |
| Party leader Francois Hollande has said he will resign - possibly to be replaced by Ms Royal, his partner who has four children with him. | |
| France's overseas territories, as well as expatriates living in the Americas, voted on Saturday. | France's overseas territories, as well as expatriates living in the Americas, voted on Saturday. |
| Blue wave | Blue wave |
| If candidates do not win more than 50% of the vote, with at least a 25% turnout, the constituency must vote again on 17 June. | If candidates do not win more than 50% of the vote, with at least a 25% turnout, the constituency must vote again on 17 June. |
| Mr Sarkozy looks set to get an increased parliamentary majorityFrance has not returned the same government to power since 1978 - but this time the pattern looks set to change, the BBC's Emma Jane Kirby in Paris says. | Mr Sarkozy looks set to get an increased parliamentary majorityFrance has not returned the same government to power since 1978 - but this time the pattern looks set to change, the BBC's Emma Jane Kirby in Paris says. |
| The "blue wave" being predicted for France should mean the president will have strong backing with which to implement his ambitious programme of economic reforms, our correspondent adds. | The "blue wave" being predicted for France should mean the president will have strong backing with which to implement his ambitious programme of economic reforms, our correspondent adds. |
| Mr Sarkozy has said he will hold a special session of parliament in July to initiate his first set of political reforms, which include tougher immigration rules and more freedom for universities. | Mr Sarkozy has said he will hold a special session of parliament in July to initiate his first set of political reforms, which include tougher immigration rules and more freedom for universities. |
| A new finance bill will mean that overtime earnings are no longer taxed, inheritance tax is abolished for most people and overall individual taxation is capped at 50%. | A new finance bill will mean that overtime earnings are no longer taxed, inheritance tax is abolished for most people and overall individual taxation is capped at 50%. |