Emmanuel Macron’s REM wins a clear majority — but no landslide after all
Paris — French President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist party swept to a large majority in parliamentary elections on Sunday, although it fell short of a predicted landslide. Macron’s year-old Republique en Marche (Republic on the Move, REM) and their allies were set to win between 350 and 361 seats in the 577-seat National Assembly, based on partial results after the second round of an election which has eliminated many high-profile figures. The party Macron founded just 16 months ago has redrawn the French political map, although the winning score was considerably lower than the 470 seats predicted by some surveys ahead of the vote. But it gives the 39-year-old president one of France’s biggest postwar majorities, strengthening his hand in implementing his programme of business-friendly reforms. "A year ago, no one would have imagined such a political renewal," Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said. "It is down to the president’s desire to breathe new life into democracy and to the Fre...
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