Hollande's Socialists win French parliamentary polls | WPN World People News

French President Francois Hollande's Socialists and his Green coalition secured majority in the first round of parliamentary elections, taking him closer to the majority he requires to govern the country and push through reforms to bolster the country's ailing economy.

The Socialists, the Greens and other allies won about 46 per cent of the vote, more than the 34 per cent that former president Nicolas Sarkozy's right-wing UMP party and its allies won, according to the results released by the interior ministry.

The poll outcome suggests that Hollande will be able to count on bagging the 289 seats needed for majority in the lower-house National Assembly after the run-off vote to be held next Sunday.

The Senate, the upper house of parliament, is already under left-wing control.

Hollande, who was elected last month, has promised to reverse the spike in unemployment and erase a government overdraft without making voters suffer welfare cuts and austerity.

Hollande, 57, wants a fiscal responsibility pact signed by Sarkozy and other European leaders reworked.

Marine Le Pen's National Front, which wants to ditch the euro, got 13.6 per cent as compared to 4.0 per cent in 2007. Le Pen had come third in last month's election.

If no candidate wins more than 50 per cent in the first round, any contender who scores more than 12.5 per cent of the vote can stay in the race for the second round.

Source: France News.Net