France

French Socialist Party wins absolute majority in parliament

The French Socialist Party has gained an absolute majority in the National Assembly, with between 312 and 326 seats out of a total 577, according to exit poll results of voting in the second and final round of nationwide parliamentary elections on Sunday.  The estimates, released after voting ended at 8p.m., also gave the far-right Front National up to four seats, and with two confirmed early Sunday evening it was the party’s first return to parliament in almost 25 years. The conservative UMP Party and its centre-right allies were credited with between 212 and 234 seats, the Green EELV party between 18 and 24 and the radical-left Front de Gauche with between 9 and 11. The turnout rate was estimated at a record low, at 56%. Graham Tearse reports.