French election: Emmanuel Macron wins parliamentary majority

French President Emmanuel Macron's La Republique en Marche party has secured a large parliamentary majority, taking seats from the traditional parties of the left and right which have dominated French politics for decades.

En Marche! and its centrist ally Democratic Movement are on course to win at least 355 out of 577 seats.

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe told the Daily Telegraph: "Through this vote, the vast majority of French have chosen hope over anger, confidence over turning in on themselves."

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According to The Guardian, "the clear majority will hand the new President a relatively free rein to implement his plans to change French labour law, and overhaul unemployment benefits and pensions".

En Marche!'s victory was tempered by low turnout, with only 43 per cent of voters taking part. Voting rates were reportedly lowest among young people and in low-income and working class areas.

"Record abstention rates and a lower-than-expected landslide prompted critics to warn he has no blank cheque for far-reaching reform," the Telegraph says.

Les Republicains and its allies are on track to secure around 125 seats, well down on its 200 in the previous parliament but higher than earlier polls had suggested.

Meanwhile, after being in power for the last five years, the Socialist party looks set to win fewer than 50 seats in total, its worst performance ever. Leader Jean-Christophe Cambadelis immediately resigned, nd called on the party to reform itself in the wake of the loss.

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen won a seat in the French parliament for the first time, but her National Front party won just eight seats in total.