France: Françoise Hollande poised for power

French President François Hollande’s first-round parliamentary election victory on Sunday has put him on course for a solid majority.

If projections based on the vote are borne out in the 17 June run-off, the left would not only control the presidency and the parliament for the first time in 20 years, but also not need to depend on a eurosceptic hard Left.

That would give Mr Hollande the political space to start meeting Germany’s demand for long-term European fiscal union.

Sunday’s vote left Mr Hollande’s Socialist Party bloc likely to secure the 289 seats needed for an outright majority in the 577-seat National Assembly, and almost certain to do so with its Greens Party allies on board.

Run-offs will be held next Sunday among the leading parties in constituencies where no one scored 50 per cent.

Mr Hollande’s office has played down suggestions that he might concede ground to Germany on fiscal sovereignty.