Sarkozy gets reduced majority for reform campaign ( no landslide)

[maddezmom]

Source: AFP

PARIS (AFP) - President Nicolas Sarkozy's right wing party won a clear majority to carry through his reform programme in France's legislative election Sunday but failed to get a widely predicted landslide.

The Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) secured 319-329 seats in the 577-member National Assembly, 30-40 seats fewer than the old parliament, according to projections issued after polls closed in the decisive second round.

Sarkozy's party had been predicted to score a "blue wave" landslide after his stunning presidential election win in May. But the Socialist Party made a surprise comeback increasing from 149 to 202-210 seats, according to the projections.

The Socialists had warned voters of a huge UMP majority in parliament would lead to a dangerous concentration of powers and turn the legislature into an annex of Sarkozy's presidency.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070617/wl_afp/francevote_070617182426;_ylt=AowF3OnSSQ1PebMMrmNWtyWQOrgF

[w4rma]

1. If the Socialist Party hadn't pushed more "liberalized" immigration laws this wouldn't have happened

Dumb idiots. They could have won this.

[David__77]

2. Probably true.

Even the communists always pandered a little to the fear of immigrants in France. But letting them in IS the right thing morally if not politically. France was a colonial power and certainly owes it to the peoples of those countries to let them in if they so choose.

[LeftishBrit]

7. Yes, they might have won if they'd made themselves over into right-wingers pandering to prejudice

Not worth it in my opinion. Better to have a left wing as well as a right wing. There are a lot of things I'd compromise on, but racism and nativist prejudices are not among them (and to clarify: unlike what seems to be the case in America, illegal immigration is only a fairly small problem in France, where borders are far less open: those who campaign on an anti-immigrant platform there are opposing ALL immigrants, including legal ones).

In any case, Sarkozy got elected mainly because the economy was doing badly and the voters wanted reforms. They may change their minds when they see what the reforms are like!

I am glad that he didn't get a landslide majority in parliament. Even with good leaders and parties, landslides are generally a bad thing, leading to arrogance and 'elected dictatorship'.

[rodeodance]

3. Sarkozy gets reduced majority for reform campaign

Source: afp

good, he will have checks place on him.




Sarkozy gets reduced majority for reform campaign

by Emma Charlton 25 minutes ago

PARIS (AFP) - President Nicolas Sarkozy's right-wing party won a solid majority to launch his programme of reforms in France's legislative election Sunday, but failed to secure a widely predicted landslide.

His Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) won 314 seats in the 577-member National Assembly, 45 fewer than in the outgoing parliament, according to final official results. Another 22 seats went to the UMP's centrist allies.

Sarkozy's party had been expected to score a "blue wave" landslide after his stunning presidential election win over Socialist Segolene Royal in May. But the Socialist Party made a surprise comeback, jumping from 149 to 185 seats.
...........

In an embarrassing blow to Sarkozy, former prime minister Alain Juppe failed to win a seat in his Bordeaux stronghold and resigned as environment superminister and government number two.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070617/wl_afp/francevote_10;_ylt=AnARzIKdd7_zCpq1kkJHWiDMWM0F

[AX10]

4. That makes more sense.

I did not see how the UMP could win 440 seats.

He has a majority of the seats with 54.4% of the seats. The opposition will be able to block his most extreme measures, especially on the side of social policy.

The additional taxes on healthcare are one of the most vile things that this pig Sarkozy wanted to do.

[Selatius]

5. It means Sarkozy has limited power, which is a good thing.

He wouldn't have the same advantage that Bush had with the Republicans, and the Socialists and other left wing parties are much more aggressive in confronting right wingers in France than Dems are with Repubs.

[AX10]

6. Also, the Socialists control the regional governments.

They will appoint the upper house and can keep a check on Sarkozy's xenophobic tendencies.