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French right eyes poll landslide French right eyes poll landslide
(about 4 hours later)
France is to hold a second and final round of elections later on Sunday to choose a new National Assembly. Voting is under way in France in the second and final round of elections to choose a new National Assembly.
The vote comes a month after Nicolas Sarkozy's presidential election victory over the Socialist Segolene Royal. The vote comes a month after Nicolas Sarkozy's presidential election victory over the socialist, Segolene Royal.
Mr Sarkozy's centre-right UMP party is hoping to win a crushing majority, predicted to be well over 400 seats or more than two-thirds of the total.Mr Sarkozy's centre-right UMP party is hoping to win a crushing majority, predicted to be well over 400 seats or more than two-thirds of the total.
The Socialists are hoping to reclaim some lost ground after disappointment in round one, which saw a low turnout.The Socialists are hoping to reclaim some lost ground after disappointment in round one, which saw a low turnout.
The polls open at 0800 (0600GMT) and close at 2000, with some 44 million voters deciding between 933 candidates in the 467 constituencies where deputies were not returned in the first round. Some 44 million voters are deciding between 933 candidates in the 467 constituencies where deputies were not returned in the first round. The polls will close at 2000 (1800 GMT).
If predictions of a UMP landslide are borne out it will give Mr Sarkozy a powerful mandate to push through the bold plan of reforms which were the centrepiece of his presidential campaign. If predictions of a landslide for the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) are borne out, Mr Sarkozy will have a powerful mandate to push through the bold reforms which were the centrepiece of his presidential campaign.
He has promised to give universities more autonomy, impose tougher sentences on repeat offenders, tighten immigration, make labour laws more flexible and reduce taxation.He has promised to give universities more autonomy, impose tougher sentences on repeat offenders, tighten immigration, make labour laws more flexible and reduce taxation.
Right 'resurgent'Right 'resurgent'
The Socialists are hoping to reclaim some lost ground, after campaigning against unpopular rises in VAT being considered by the new French government.The Socialists are hoping to reclaim some lost ground, after campaigning against unpopular rises in VAT being considered by the new French government.
The first round of voting on 10 June was followed by in-fighting between Ms Royal and her partner, the party leader, Francois Hollande.The first round of voting on 10 June was followed by in-fighting between Ms Royal and her partner, the party leader, Francois Hollande.
The BBC's Caroline Wyatt in Paris says that has paved the way for a bitter leadership battle if the left does just as badly in this final round.The BBC's Caroline Wyatt in Paris says that has paved the way for a bitter leadership battle if the left does just as badly in this final round.
Smaller parties, too, have also suffered badly from the resurgence of the French right.Smaller parties, too, have also suffered badly from the resurgence of the French right.
The new centrist democratic party, run by Francois Bayrou, is expected to win just a handful of seats, while the far right National Front may fail to win a single one.The new centrist democratic party, run by Francois Bayrou, is expected to win just a handful of seats, while the far right National Front may fail to win a single one.