Swing to the left

France's left-wing opposition dealt a heavy blow to the conservative government of French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Sunday, taking over his majority in the Senate just seven months before he stands for re-election.

The Socialist Party, along with the Communist and Green parties, claim they have won enough seats to take power in the upper house of the legislature. If confirmed by election officials, it would give Socialists their first majority in the traditionally conservative Senate in decades.

"Nicolas Sarkozy will go down in history as the president that lost the right its majority in the Senate," said Francois Hollande, favorite to win the nomination among the Socialists to challenge Sarkozy next year.

The shift to the left followed a series of victories by Socialists in local elections. A group of some 72,000 elected local officials, or so-called "super voters," elect the Senate, rather than the general population.

Jean-Pierre Bel, head of the Socialist group in the Senate, told LCI television that the Senate victory would "go down in history."

"The results of this Senate election represent a real comeuppance for the right."

Historic victory

Right-wing parties have held control of the Senate since the Fifth Republic was founded in 1958. A left-leaning Senate cannot derail legislation proposed by Sarkozy's government, but the loss was a significant symbolic defeat.

About half of the 348 seats in the Senate were up for grabs, and the left needed only 22 more seats to take the majority.

Several centrists and independents are also in the Senate, meaning it may take a few days for the exact division of sides to become clear.

Prime Minister Francois Fillon conceded that the right had suffered from its divisions, but said in a statement: "The moment of truth will come next spring. The battle begins tonight."

Author: Andrew Bowen (AFP, Reuters)
Editor: Kyle James