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Sarkozy party wins in French poll Sarkozy party wins in French poll
(about 3 hours later)
President Nicolas Sarkozy's centre-right party has won a majority in parliamentary elections in France, according to early poll projections. French President Nicolas Sarkozy's centre-right party won a comfortable majority in parliamentary elections.
But his UMP party fell far short of the landslide majority it was predicted to win in the second-round vote. But his UMP party fell far short of the landslide win predicted for it in the second-round vote, with the Socialist opposition faring better than expected.
The opposition Socialists fared better than expected, the early results said. Voter turnout was low, at about 60%. The UMP won 314 seats in the 577-member assembly, while the Socialists won 185. Voter turnout was low, at about 60%.
The results will be seen as a minor setback for Mr Sarkozy's party, says the BBC's Caroline Wyatt in Paris.The results will be seen as a minor setback for Mr Sarkozy's party, says the BBC's Caroline Wyatt in Paris.
However, a major blow for the UMP was the defeat of former Prime Minister Alain Juppe, who was made energy and environment minister in the new government after Mr Sarkozy's election.However, a major blow for the UMP was the defeat of former Prime Minister Alain Juppe, who was made energy and environment minister in the new government after Mr Sarkozy's election.
Mr Juppe said he would offer his resignation. Mr Sarkozy has insisted that any minister would have to leave the government if they failed to be elected.Mr Juppe said he would offer his resignation. Mr Sarkozy has insisted that any minister would have to leave the government if they failed to be elected.
But the victory gives Mr Sarkozy enough room to start pushing his reforms through parliament, our correspondent says.But the victory gives Mr Sarkozy enough room to start pushing his reforms through parliament, our correspondent says.
Mr Sarkozy has promised to give universities more autonomy, impose tougher sentences on repeat offenders, tighten immigration, make labour laws more flexible and reduce taxation.Mr Sarkozy has promised to give universities more autonomy, impose tougher sentences on repeat offenders, tighten immigration, make labour laws more flexible and reduce taxation.
'Coherent choice''Coherent choice'
The UMP and allied parties would win around 340 seats, according to polling institutions, down from 359 in the previous parliament. The UMP and its allies' 314-seat majority is smaller than the 359 seats they held in the previous parliament, when Jacques Chirac was president.
HIGH-PROFILE LOSERS Former Prime Minister Alain Juppe, appointed to be energy and environment minister in new governmentMarine Le Pen, daughter of far-right National Front leader Jean Marie le PenJean-Louis Brugiere, France's best known anti-terrorist judge, standing for UMPHIGH-PROFILE LOSERS Former Prime Minister Alain Juppe, appointed to be energy and environment minister in new governmentMarine Le Pen, daughter of far-right National Front leader Jean Marie le PenJean-Louis Brugiere, France's best known anti-terrorist judge, standing for UMP
Socialists and their allies were braced for up to 233 seats in the 577-member National Assembly, up from 149. The Socialists and their allies won 185 seats, up from 149 in the previous assembly.
The centrist Democratic Movement, founded by presidential candidate Francois Bayrou, was expected to win just two seats. The far-right National Front party was not expected to win any seats. The centrist Democratic Movement, founded by presidential candidate Francois Bayrou, won three seats. The far-right National Front party did not win any seats.
French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said the result gave Mr Sarkozy a strong mandate to introduce his reforms.French Prime Minister Francois Fillon said the result gave Mr Sarkozy a strong mandate to introduce his reforms.
"Your participation has resulted in a clear and coherent choice, which will allow the president of the Republic to implement his project," he said."Your participation has resulted in a clear and coherent choice, which will allow the president of the Republic to implement his project," he said.
Royal split Royal separation
The leader of the Socialists, Francois Hollande, said the result was "good for the country".The leader of the Socialists, Francois Hollande, said the result was "good for the country".
"The blue wave that had been predicted... has not taken place. In the new assembly, there will be diversity and pluralism," he said."The blue wave that had been predicted... has not taken place. In the new assembly, there will be diversity and pluralism," he said.
He also described the result as an indictment of "unfair measures" set to be introduced by the UMP such as raising sales taxes from 19.5% to 24.5% to finance healthcare costs.He also described the result as an indictment of "unfair measures" set to be introduced by the UMP such as raising sales taxes from 19.5% to 24.5% to finance healthcare costs.
The Socialists' results are a relief to the party, which has been riven by infighting since its candidate Segolene Royal, Mr Hollande's partner, lost the presidential elections in May. The Socialists' results are a relief to the party, which has been riven by infighting since its candidate, Segolene Royal, lost the presidential elections in May.
Ms Royal is expected to take over from Mr Hollande as party leader. But according to our correspondent, discussion on Monday is likely to focus on a surprise announcement by Ms Royal that she is splitting from her partner, the Socialists' leader, Francois Hollande.
Meanwhile the defeated presidential candidate said in a book to be published this week, that the couple were splitting up. The defeated presidential candidate said in a book to be published this week that her partner was having an affair.
In the book, Ms Royal accuses her partner of having an affair.
"I have asked Francois Hollande to leave our home, to pursue his love interest which is now laid out in books and newspapers and I wish him happiness," she said in an interview ahead of the book's release on Wednesday."I have asked Francois Hollande to leave our home, to pursue his love interest which is now laid out in books and newspapers and I wish him happiness," she said in an interview ahead of the book's release on Wednesday.
The couple have been together for more than 25 years and have four children.The couple have been together for more than 25 years and have four children.
Ms Royal has said she will challenge Mr Hollande for the party's leadership.