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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| France holds parliamentary vote | France holds parliamentary vote |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| France's voters are returning to the polls in parliamentary elections, only a month after Nicholas Sarkozy was elected as their new president. | France's voters are returning to the polls in parliamentary elections, only a month after Nicholas Sarkozy was elected as their new president. |
| His UMP party looks likely to increase its majority in the lower house, the national assembly, enabling him to push through sweeping economic reforms. | His UMP party looks likely to increase its majority in the lower house, the national assembly, enabling him to push through sweeping economic reforms. |
| The Socialists, whose presidential candidate Segolene Royal lost to Mr Sarkozy, are expected to lose seats. | The Socialists, whose presidential candidate Segolene Royal lost to Mr Sarkozy, are expected to lose seats. |
| A second round of voting will be held in a week's time. | A second round of voting will be held in a week's time. |
| Voting began at 0800 (0600 GMT) on Sunday. Polls close at 2000 (1800 GMT). | Voting began at 0800 (0600 GMT) on Sunday. Polls close at 2000 (1800 GMT). |
| By midday, just under 23% of registered voters had cast their ballots, down from 31% at the presidential elections but up on the last parliamentary election five years ago, officials said. | |
| 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%. |
| The Socialists are expected to lose ground, and party leader Francois Hollande says he will resign - possibly to be replaced by Ms Royal, his partner who has four children with him. | The Socialists are expected to lose ground, and party leader Francois Hollande says he will resign - possibly to be replaced by Ms Royal, his partner who has four children with him. |
| Smaller parties on the left and the right are expected to do badly, as the key battleground shifts to the two main parties. | Smaller parties on the left and the right are expected to do badly, as the key battleground shifts to the two main parties. |