Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


                     France Votes in Legislative Elections

   by Lisa Bryant

   NEUILLY PLAISANCE, France -  France is voting in the first round of
   legislative elections that will test whether new President Francois
   Hollande will have the majority to push through his economic and social
   policies.
   Sunday is usually a quiet day in the Paris suburg of Neuilly Plaisance,
   even on election day.  French voters are choosing their representatives
   for all 577 seats of France's National Assembly.
   Dr. Fancoise Vaudour just emerged from a school that is serving as a
   polling station.  She picked a candidate from the Socialist Party of
   newly elected President Francois Hollande.
   Vadour says her choice reflects her worries about France's economy and
   social programs.  She says services like medicine, the post and the
   police have degraded.  Everybody is unhappy.
   Hollande is hoping to consolidate his victory in the polls last month
   by having a leftist majority in the lower house.
   The legislative elections will determine whether he can push through
   his policies to grow the economy and increase taxes for the rich.  The
   outgoing National Assembly is dominated by the right, which is trying
   to beat back the leftist tide.
   The extreme left and extreme right may also do well, underscoring
   French voter anxiety during these tough economic times.
   Businessman Philippe Giraud, 45, fears a leftist victory.  He voted for
   a candidate from the conservative UMP party of former president Nicolas
   Sarkozy.
   "I think a lot of things I stand for, I do not see this happening
   [being realized] with the Socialist Party," said Giraud. "And this is
   why I have always voted for the UMP."
   Like Vadour, Giraud is also worried about France, and Europe.
   "There is a big crisis in Greece, there is a big crisis coming with
   Spanish banks.  And all the things the politicians have been talking
   [about] is just things which do not really matter [in terms of] where
   the country should be," he said.
   Candidates scoring more than 50 percent of the vote automatically win a
   seat on the National Assembly.  Others who earn more than 12.5 percent
   of the vote are eligible for the June 17 runoff.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/france_votes_in_legislative_elections
   /1205579.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/france_votes_in_legislative_elections/1205579.html