Macron is set for majority, results say

PARIS // French president Emmanuel Macron’s centrist party was headed for a large majority in parliamentary elections yesterday.

It is set to dominate France’s traditional major parties in a dramatic redrawing of the country’s political map.

Mr Macron’s year- old Republic on the Move and its allies are set to win between 355 and 425 seats in the 577-seat national assembly, according to partial results from the second round of an election in which many high-profile figures were thrown out.

The result, if confirmed, would give Mr Macron, 39, one of France’s biggest postwar majorities, and strengthen his hand in enacting his business-friendly, pro-European Union programme. His party dominated the right-wing Republicans and Socialists, as well as presidential candidate Marine Le Pen’s far-right Front National party, which fell far short of its target.

The Socialists lost about 200 seats after five years in power under former president Francois Hollande, leaving them with between 27 and 49 seats. The Republicans hung on to between 97 and 130 seats, down from more than 200 in the last parliament, and they remain the main opposition party.

Front National were only expected to win four to eight seats, but Ms Le Pen won a seat.