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French right eyes poll landslide French right eyes poll landslide
(about 1 hour later)
Voting is under way in France in the second and final round of elections 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.
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). 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) and final results are expected early on Monday.
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.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' Low turnout
The Socialists are hoping to reclaim some lost ground, after campaigning against unpopular rises in VAT being considered by the new French government. The election's first round on 10 June was marred by a record abstention rate of nearly 40%.
FIRST ROUND RESULTS UMP and allies won 42%Socialists and allies won 28%Only one of the 110 MPs elected outright was a Socialist 99 UMP candidates elected outright, including PM Francois Fillon and six other ministersSmall parties performed poorly - Francois Bayrou's Democratic Movement won only 7.6% and Communist Party took 4.3%Turnout hit record low of 60.5%FIRST ROUND RESULTS UMP and allies won 42%Socialists and allies won 28%Only one of the 110 MPs elected outright was a Socialist 99 UMP candidates elected outright, including PM Francois Fillon and six other ministersSmall parties performed poorly - Francois Bayrou's Democratic Movement won only 7.6% and Communist Party took 4.3%Turnout hit record low of 60.5%
The UMP and its allies won 42% of the vote. Ninety-nine of its MPs were elected at the first hurdle after polling more than 50%.
The Socialist Party, which currently has 149 seats in parliament, received 28% of the vote and only one of its MPs was elected outright.
Smaller parties, too, also suffered badly from the resurgence of the French right.
The new centrist Democratic Movement (MoDem), run by Francois Bayrou, is now expected to win just a handful of seats, while the far right National Front may fail to win a single one.
The UMP's predicted total of over 400 seats would give it the single biggest parliamentary majority under the 49-year-old constitution of the French Republic.
Right 'resurgent'
The Socialists have pleaded with voters not to give the UMP and Mr Sarkozy too much power, with Ms Royal calling on them to prevent a "blue wave" in the second round.
Her party is also hoping to reclaim some lost ground by campaigning against unpopular rises in VAT being considered by Mr Sarkozy's new government.
The government is considering raising VAT from 19.5% to 24.5% to help finance plans to reduce French companies' payroll charges and make them more competitive.
A poll published on Friday said 60% of voters opposed the idea.
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.
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.