French Socialists Gain Absolute Majority: Exit Polls

French President Francois Hollande gestures during a news conference with Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti at the Chigi palace in Rome — French President Francois Hollande gestures during a news conference with Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti on Thursday at the Chigi palace in Rome. The same day, Hollande reportedly discussed with Monti a proposal for the European Union to agree on growth-boosting measures worth €120 billion ($151 billion) this year. REUTERS

As expected, France’s Socialist Party has won the second round of parliamentary elections Sunday, according to exit polls witnessed by Agence France-Presse.

AFP said President Francois Hollande’s party and its allies will gain at least 312 seats in the 577-seats National Assembly. If these numbers are accurate, the Socialists would not need any support from the far-left parties (who harbor some deep reservations over Hollande’s economic policies).

Given that the Socialists already control the Senate, a majority in the Assembly will make it much easier for Hollande to push through his agenda, including a scaling back of some austerity measures.

The extreme right National Front party may have won up to four seats in the Assembly.

Elections Elections Elections