Hollande party 'wins majority' in French parliament
(about 11 hours later)
French voters are taking part in a second round of parliamentary elections seen as crucial for President Francois Hollande's reform agenda.
The Socialist Party of France's President Francois Hollande has won enough seats in parliament to form an absolute majority, according to exit polls obtained by the AFP news agency.
The socialist leader, who was elected last month, is seeking a solid left-wing majority in the lower house.
The exit polls suggested the party and its allies would take more than 312 out of 577 seats in the National Assembly.
He has promised to hire more public workers and to refocus EU fiscal efforts from austerity to "growth".
If confirmed, it means the Socialists will not have to rely on support from either the Greens or the far-left.
Socialists and their left-wing allies won 46% in last Sunday's first round, against 34% for the centre-right UMP.
It gives the president strong backing as he seeks measures to boost growth.
Nationwide, the turnout was a modest 57%. France's 46 million eligible voters are picking representatives for 577 seats in the National Assembly.
Mr Hollande has promised to hire more public workers and to refocus EU fiscal efforts away from their emphasis on austerity.
After the first round, 36 seats out of 577 were declared in constituencies where the winner got more than 50% of the vote. Socialists and their allies won 25 of those seats.
Sunday's vote was the second round of a two-part parliamentary election.
Electoral pacts
The polls suggested the conservative UMP party and its allies would win between 212 and 234 seats, and the far-right National Front between one and four seats.
The French Senate is already under the control of the Socialists and their allies following elections in 2011.
In one of the most closely watched constituencies in La Rochelle, Mr Hollande's ex-partner, the former Socialist presidential contender Segolene Royal, was beaten by a dissident Socialist candidate.
The Socialist Party has concluded electoral pacts with the smaller Europe Ecology/The Greens (EELV) as well as the Radical Left party - with marginal candidates withdrawing from the second round in order not to split the left-wing vote in individual constituencies.
Ms Royal admitted defeat but slammed what she called a "political betrayal".
The vote is also seen as a key test for the anti-immigration National Front (FN), which took 13.6% in the first round.
Earlier in the week Mr Hollande's current partner, Valerie Trierweiler, signalled her support for Ms Royal's opponent, Olivier Falorni - a move seen as highly embarrassing for the president.
The FN - which has no nationally elected representative - is hoping to take a number of seats, notably for its leader Marine Le Pen in the northern town of Henin Beaumont.
Another closely watched race will be in La Rochelle in the west. Official Socialist candidate Segolene Royal - who is also Mr Hollande's former partner - is standing against a dissident left-winger, Olivier Falorni, who defied the national leadership and maintained his candidacy.
In a well-publicised twist in the past week, Mr Hollande's current partner, Valerie Trierweiler, expressed her support for Mr Falorni in a tweet.
On the right, the UMP of former President Nicolas Sarkozy has concluded an electoral agreement with its centrist Radical Party and New Centre allies.
The start of Mr Hollande's term has been dominated by the eurozone crisis. In his month since taking office, he has taken part in a series of summits urging his EU partners to engage in stimulus spending and to consider eurobonds.
His government is due to present a revised budget plan to parliament next month.
Are you in France? Will you be voting in the parliamentary elections? What do you think of President Hollande's reform agenda? Send us your comments and stories using the form below.
Are you in France? Will you be voting in the parliamentary elections? What do you think of President Hollande's reform agenda? Send us your comments and stories using the form below.
