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Hollande party 'wins majority' in French parliament Hollande party 'wins majority' in French parliament
(40 minutes later)
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 Party of France's President Francois Hollande has won enough seats in parliament to form an absolute majority, according to polling projections.
The exit polls suggested the party and its allies would take more than 312 out of 577 seats in the National Assembly. The projections suggested the party and its allies would take more than 320 out of 577 seats in the National Assembly.
If confirmed, it means the Socialists will not have to rely on support from either the Greens or the far-left. If confirmed, it would be the Socialists' best result in modern French history.
It gives the president strong backing as he seeks measures to boost growth. It gives the president strong backing for his tax-and-spend programme.
Mr Hollande has promised to hire more public workers and to refocus EU fiscal efforts away from their emphasis on austerity. He would not have to rely on support in parliament from either the Greens or the far-left.
Sunday's vote was the second round of a two-part parliamentary election. Mr Hollande has promised to hire more public workers and to refocus EU fiscal efforts away from their emphasis on austerity, and towards growth.
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. Sunday's vote was the second round of a two-part parliamentary election. Turnout was a record low, at 55.9%.
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 projections suggested the conservative UMP party and its allies would win between 212 and 234 seats, and the far-right National Front between two and four seats.
On a night of high drama in Europe, the French president, seen as the new champion of growth, was handed a resounding yes by the French public. It is the first time in over 30 years the Socialists have taken the lower house, it could prove their biggest result in modern French history, and it underlines yet again that across Europe people are turning against austerity.
With control of both the senate and the lower house, Francois Hollande now has a mandate to spend and raise taxes. Though the Socialists' absolute majority ensures he can at least take the more difficult decisions of spending cuts, without the support of the far left.
The BBC's Christian Fraser in Paris says it is being reported that the National Front leader, Marine Le Pen, may have been beaten in the northern constituency of Henin-Beaumont; but that her 22-year-old niece, Marion Marechal-Le Pen, won election in Carpentras in the south.
In one of the most closely watched constituencies of La Rochelle, Mr Hollande's ex-partner, the former Socialist presidential contender Segolene Royal, was beaten by a dissident Socialist candidate.
Ms Royal admitted defeat but slammed what she called a "political betrayal".Ms Royal admitted defeat but slammed what she called a "political betrayal".
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.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.
Our correspondent said the UMP, the party of the former president Nicolas Sarkozy, had had a miserable campaign which was reflected in the result.
The party currently has no leader.
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.