Date:18/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/18/stories/2007061810800100.htm

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Surprise win for Socialists

Vaiju Naravane

PARIS:

The promised blue wave did not sweep France as predicted and President Sarkozy's UMP party failed to consolidate its impressive first round win in Sunday's second and final round of voting in legislative elections. The announcement of a five-point hike in VAT (from 19.6 to 25 per cent) and the accompanying fears of inflation appear to have disenchanted some of President Sarkozy's voters.

The Socialist Party made a surprising last-minute thrust to improve its score by over 60 seats over the outgoing parliament. The combined Left won a projected 233 seats with the Socialist Party projected to win 212 seats.