French socialists seek alliances to limit losses

Socialists and other losers in France’s first round of parliamentary elections sought to limit the damage today by chasing alliances and rallying voters.

President Nicolas Sarkozy’s conservatives expect a crushing victory in the final round.

For the first time in nearly three decades, French voters look set to return an outgoing majority to power, a resounding endorsement of Mr Sarkozy’s push to reform Europe’s third-largest economy.

In yesterday’s round one, his UMP party won 39.6% of the vote, while the opposition Socialists had 24.7%.

The results give the conservatives a strong advantage heading into the decisive run-off next Sunday, putting them on track to expand their absolute majority in the 577-seat parliament.

Socialist Segolene Royal, who lost the presidency to Mr Sarkozy last month, said she would seek an alliance with centrist Francois Bayrou for the second round in a last-ditch attempt to avoid a “crushing” UMP majority.

“It is necessary in a democracy to have ... a counterbalance of powers,” Ms Royal told RTL radio.