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Hollande party wins majority in French parliament Hollande party wins majority in French parliament
(about 3 hours later)
French President Francois Hollande's Socialist Party has won enough seats in parliamentary elections to form an absolute majority, according to projections. French President Francois Hollande's Socialist Party has won enough seats in parliamentary elections to form an absolute majority.
Polling data suggested the party and its allies would take more than 320 out of 577 seats in the National Assembly. With final results still to be declared, the Socialists look set to win between 313 and 315 of the 577 seats in the National Assembly.
If confirmed, it would be the Socialists' best result in modern French history. But former President Nicolas Sarkozy's UMP has seen its share fall from 304 to an estimated 214 seats.
It gives the president strong backing for his tax-and-spend programme.It gives the president strong backing for his tax-and-spend programme.
The expected results mean the Socialists will not have to rely on the support of the Greens or far left to push through their plans to hire more public workers and refocus EU fiscal efforts away from their emphasis on austerity. These results mean the Socialists will not have to rely on the support of the Greens or far left to push through their plans to hire more public workers and refocus EU fiscal efforts away from their emphasis on austerity.
"This score exemplifies strong confidence in the president," said Finance Minister Pierre Moscovici.
Sunday's vote was the second round of a two-part parliamentary election. Turnout was a record low, at 55.9%.Sunday's vote was the second round of a two-part parliamentary election. Turnout was a record low, at 55.9%.
Winners and losersWinners and losers
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.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", after the president's current partner signalled her support for Ms Royal's opponent on Twitter.Ms Royal admitted defeat but slammed what she called a "political betrayal", after the president's current partner signalled her support for Ms Royal's opponent on Twitter.
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.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.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.
Far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen lost her race in the northern constituency of Henin-Beaumont by what appears to be a small margin, but her 22-year-old niece, Marion Marechal-Le Pen, is thought to have won in the southern region of Carpentras.Far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen lost her race in the northern constituency of Henin-Beaumont by what appears to be a small margin, but her 22-year-old niece, Marion Marechal-Le Pen, is thought to have won in the southern region of Carpentras.
The party took two seats for the first time since the 1980s. Her own defeat aside, Marine Le Pen described the night's results as an "enormous success" for her party.The party took two seats for the first time since the 1980s. Her own defeat aside, Marine Le Pen described the night's results as an "enormous success" for her party.
"The [centre-right] UMP is paying the price for its ideological contradiction", she added."The [centre-right] UMP is paying the price for its ideological contradiction", she added.
She now intends to contest the result in Henin-Beaumont, where there were only around 118 votes between her and the socialist candidate.She now intends to contest the result in Henin-Beaumont, where there were only around 118 votes between her and the socialist candidate.
The projections suggested the UMP and its allies would win between 212 and 234 seats. The BBC's Christian Fraser in Paris says the UMP, the now-leaderless party of the former president Sarkozy, had had a miserable campaign which was reflected in the result.
The BBC's Christian Fraser in Paris says the UMP, the now-leaderless party of the former president Nicolas Sarkozy, had had a miserable campaign which was reflected in the result.
As exit polls began to be announced, French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said the country's voters had confirmed their will to change.As exit polls began to be announced, French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said the country's voters had confirmed their will to change.
"It is a difficult situation we are in," he said, "but from now on, we will be able to mobilise all our vital powers to make our country even stronger.""It is a difficult situation we are in," he said, "but from now on, we will be able to mobilise all our vital powers to make our country even stronger."
In addition to fixing the Eurozone economy, Mr Hollande has said his first priorities for the new parliament include postponing a balanced budget until 2017, raising income taxes and hiring 60,000 new teachers.In addition to fixing the Eurozone economy, Mr Hollande has said his first priorities for the new parliament include postponing a balanced budget until 2017, raising income taxes and hiring 60,000 new teachers.