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| Europe |
| French Elections |
| 2007-06-10 |
| President Nicolas Sarkozy will seek to bolster his mandate for pervasive reforms to energize France's sluggish economy in legislative elections starting Sunday. The vote is crucial to Sarkozy's reform program because the composition of his Cabinet and its ability to push through legislation is tied to the number of seats the mainstream right has in the 577-seat National Assembly. The balloting Sunday is the first round. In France's complex electoral calculus, only candidates who win a majority of votes Sunday land a seat immediately. In races with no majority winner, any hopeful who gets more than 12.5 percent will qualify for a decisive second round June 17. Sarkozy wants to shake up a country down on its economic fortunes by slashing taxes and payroll fees, making it easier for companies to hire and fire, and cutting the number of public sector workers. Labor unions and student groups are wary and ready to mount strikes and protests if they deem that Sarkozy wants to go too far in trimming welfare state protections. The bigger the victory for conservatives, the stronger Sarkozy's advantage will be in talks with opponents for his reforms. Conservatives want to capitalize on momentum from Sarkozy's 53-47 percent victory over Socialist Segolene Royal in the May 6 presidential election. Turnout this weekend is expected to be lower than the 84 percent in the presidential contest. Since his election, Sarkozy has drawn plaudits for getting straight to work and for his energetic style which contrasts to former President Jacques Chirac's slower pace. At a legislative campaign stop, Sarkozy called on the French in northern Le Havre to "renew their trust" so he could "keep the commitments" made in the presidential race. Sarkozy has already met with labor union leaders to discuss his labor reform plans, launched plans for an environmental conference later this year, and jetted to Brussels, Madrid and to Germany twice. Polls suggest conservatives have even more support now than when Sarkozy defeated Royal. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |