France is to hold a second and final round of elections later on Sunday to choose a new National Assembly. 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. 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.
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 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.
The election confirms the bold choice voters made in the presidential election to back reform. This is a country that ten years ago cheerfully elected the left on a promise of reducing the working week from 39 hours to 35 without loss of pay. Today, Mr Sarkozy's campaign mantra is the exact reverse: "work more to earn more". He was swept into power on a promise of "rupture" with the past and a determination to restore the work ethic. The French seem very happy with their choice. Polls say that Mr Sarkozy is the most popular newly elected president since De Gaulle. In giving him a crushing parliamentary majority, voters are handing him an exceptionally strong mandate for a tax-cutting, welfare-tightening, business-friendly programme, part of which will be voted through in an extraordinary parliamentary session in July.
The French seem very happy with their choice. Polls say that Mr Sarkozy is the most popular newly elected president since De Gaulle. In giving him a crushing parliamentary majority, voters are handing him an exceptionally strong mandate for a tax-cutting, welfare-tightening, business-friendly programme, part of which will be voted through in an extraordinary parliamentary session in July.
No points for guessing where this comes from In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
