French President Emmanuel Macron’s En Marche has won a clear parliamentary majority in the 2017 legislative elections, just weeks after his own presidential victory.
With nearly all votes counted, Macron’s En Marche alongside its Democratic Movement (MoDem) allies, has won more than 300 seats in the 577-seat National Assembly.
The party was formed just over a year ago on 6 April 2016 and around half of its fielded candidates have little or no political experience.
The La République en Marche along with MoDem has surpassed the required the 289-seat mark to control the National Assembly, delivering a huge blow to traditional parties on both the left and right.
The winning margin is however, lower than expected, with the total turnout hitting a record low, down by about 42% from 2012.
The conservative Republicans and their allies could form a large opposition block with 125-131 seats, which in comparison to the last parliament is down from 200.
Though Marine Le Pen’s far right political party - the National Front (FN) - performed worse than expected by getting just 8 seats in comparison to their expected 15, Pen won a seat in the parliament for the first time representing Henin - Beaumont town.
The Socialist Party (PS), which was in power since the past 5 years along with their ally the Radical Party of the Left (PRG), are looking set to get only 41-49 seats, their lowest tally ever.
The defeat has led the Socialist party leader - Jean-Christophe Cambadelis- who lost in last week’s first-round vote, to announce his retirement from the post.
The result gives the young French President a strong mandate in parliament to pursue his pro-EU, business-friendly reform plans.
En Marche: Know More- President: Catherine Barbaroux (Acting)
- General Secretary: Richard Ferrand
- Founder: Emmanuel Macron
- Founded: 6 April 2016
- Headquarters: 99, rue de l'Abbé-Groult
- 75015 Paris
- Youth wing: Les Jeunes avec Macron
- Ideology: Liberalism, Social liberalism, Economic liberalism, Pro-Europeanism
- Political position: Centre
- National Assembly: 308 / 577
