Sarkozy set for big mandate as French vote in new Assembly

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PARIS, June 17 (AFP): French President Nicolas Sarkozy looked set to win a sweeping mandate for his ambitious programme of reforms Sunday, as the French go back to the polls to elect a new National Assembly, the lower house of parliament.
In the second round of the country's legislative elections, some 35 million registered voters are choosing parliamentary deputies in the 467 constituencies where there was no winner in the first round a week ago.
Opinions polls are unanimous in predicting Sarkozy's centre- right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) a big victory over the Socialist Party (PS), and the only doubt is likely to be over the extent of its majority in the new Assembly.
Both parties urged voters to turn in force in order to bring down the record abstention rate -- 39.6 per cent-of June 10. It is France's fourth national vote in less than two months, and the country is showing clear signs of election weariness.
Elected on May 6 over the Socialist Segolene Royal, Sarkozy wants a large majority in the legislature in order to maintain the political momentum behind his promised reforms.
He has pledged to summon a special session of the National Assembly in July in order to push through the first stage of his programme, which will include key changes to the tax system meant to encourage the French to work harder.
Deeply divided over Royal's defeat, the PS seems resigned to another five years in opposition and its campaign has focussed mainly on warning against a too large UMP majority.
Opinion polls suggest the UMP and its ally the New Centre will win between 405 and 435 seats in the 577 member Assembly, with the PS getting between 125 and 149. Of the 110 seats decided in round one, all but one were for the UMP or its allies.
As the UMP already controls the legislature, it would be the first time since 1978 that a ruling party has retained its majority-a sure sign that Sarkozy's claim to represent a "clean break" from the past is widely accepted.
The PS currently has 149 seats and will regard it as a success if it can retain all these or even take a few more. If it falls to below 100, there are likely to be immediate calls for heads to roll.