Sarkozy's party wins in Parliament, but left wakes up

On Friday the talk was all about a massive landslide in the parliamentary elections in France, with Sarkozy's UMP winning at least 400 seats and the Socialist party struggling to win 100 but it did not quite work out that way. Fears of a rubber stamp majority - well founded, as we know from recent experience in America - plus the left jumping on Sarkozy's plan to increase the VAT tax (to pay for tax cuts elsewhere) led to an actual decline for the UMP who dropped from 359 seats to 346 while the left gathered 226 seats in total. Sarkozy can still push through legislation with ease though it will not be quite as easy as he expected.

With the elections finished, Sarkozy will soon launch his program of reform for France, even keeping Parliament in session during the summer holidays when most of the country is away. This tactic has been used in the past, typically to announce what could be considered an unpopular reform, with the hope that it will get lost in the vacation shuffle, much like we see on Friday afternoons when the Bush administration announces unpopular news. With greater reform being discussed, most are bracing themselves for a lively return in September when most are predicting mass protests.

Also out yesterday was the news of the breakup of Socialist presidential candidate Segolene Royal and partner Francois Hollande, Socialist party leader and father of her children. Rumors had been widespread for months about trouble and the two have been publicly trading barbs during the campaign season so it comes as very little surprise.