Disappointment For French Right As Left Picks Up Parliament Seats

The right still cruises to victory, but actually will have fewer seats than it had in the last parliament.

According to estimates by the TNS/Sofres-Unilog institute, based on a partial vote count, Sarkozy's conservative Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) and its allies will hold 345 of the 577 seats in the National Assembly. Of these, the UMP will hold an estimated 323 seats, with another 22 going to its centrist allies, the New Centre.

However, the results are disappointing for Sarkozy, as they represent a net loss of about 35 seats for the UMP compared to the number the party held in the outgoing National Assembly.

In addition, the opposition Socialist Party gained an estimated 57 seats, to 206. The entire French Left, including the Green and Communist parties, will now dispose of 228 seats, 55 more than they had in the preceding National Assembly.

Following last Sunday's first round, all polls had predicted a landslide victory for the conservatives, with estimates showing them grabbing between 410 and 501 seats.

In perhaps the biggest upset of the night, the conservative government's number two, Environment Minister Alain Juppe, was defeated by his Socialist opponent, Michèle Delaunay, in Bordeaux.

Dang. Would have been nice just to see the left throw a tantrum.

posted by Ace at 04:49 PM

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