French achieved majority in Senate

The French left historically achieved an absolute majority in the Senate

At seven months of the presidential election, the Left achieved a second victory at the polls after the last local elections.

The result is "a serious failure if not serious, for Nicolas Sarkozy," said socialist Francois Hollande.

Conservative Prime Minister, François Fillon, attributes the defeat of his party divisions in many departments. "

Left parties and environmentalists in France achieved this Sunday absolute majority in the Senate for the first time since the founding of the V Republic in 1958 and seven months before the next presidential election.

Failing that go beyond the official results confirmed this both from the ranks of the Socialist Party (PS) and from the ruling conservative Union for a Popular Movement (UMP), the party's head of state, Nicolas Sarkozy .

The election changed political sign that the upper chamber were designed to renew , by indirect suffrage of 71,890 members, general directors, regional councils and delegates from 44 districts for a period of six years, 170 of the 321 seats that make up the Gallo Senate.

Before the official results were known, the aspiring candidate for the PS in the upcoming presidential elections François Hollande, the favorite in the polls, said the result would be "a serious failure if not serious, for Nicolas Sarkozy. "

"For the first time since the V Republic, the left would be the majority in the Senate, an event is historical , "said Hollande, whose party manages data showing that the left forces have managed to win the 23 seats they needed to gain control of the Senate.

For his part, Prime Minister François Fillon conservative, said in a statement that "the opposition showed a strong momentum "in the Senate, which he attributed to" divisions "in" many departments "within his party.

This progression of the left "was predictable , according to the latest local elections, "where the left won a victory over the government's severe and conservative UMP, Fillon said.

"We must join forces and assert our convictions to the French," the prime minister, who said that "the moment of truth will take place next spring, "referring to the presidential election.

In the same line said UMP secretary general, Jean-Francois Cope, who said that "defeat" of their formation in the Senate is "disappointed" but not "a surprise".

For its part, the outgoing president of the Senate, Gérard Larcher (UMP) announced that it will present to its own re-election despite the polls this Sunday, which give most to the left in that chamber.

The territorial representation ensures Senate of the Parliament, also established by the National Assembly.