PARIS – Four French polling agencies say leftist candidates won strong support in the first round of parliamentary elections crucial to President Francois Hollande’s Socialist agenda.
Hollande needs leftists to take control of the lower house of parliament to carry out his plans to redirect France’s economy, with repercussions around debt-laden Europe.
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The TNS-Sofres, CSA, Ipsos and Ifop polling agencies estimate that the Socialists and their allies won between 31 per cent and 35 per cent of the vote Sunday, while former President Nicolas Sarkozy’s conservative UMP party won between 34 per cent and 35 per cent.
But the projections show other leftist parties expected to back Hollande winning another 12 per cent to 13 per cent.
The decisive second round is June 17.
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