In a surprise, an environmentalist coalition, Europe Ecologie, came on par with the socialists with 16% of the vote, while centrist leader Francois Bayrou saw support slump to less than 8.5%.
The UMP's strong showing comes despite the economic downturn, which had hit Sarkozy's popularity, but Sunday's vote will come with health warnings for the government. The opposition was splintered on Sunday between various centre-left and hard-left parties.
Put together, all groups which openly oppose Sarkozy won a majority, suggesting the president would be in trouble if they managed to join forces.
Sunday also saw a record abstention rate of 60%, according to early data. Pollsters say this probably penalised the left, because they tend to draw support from younger voters, who were especially turned off by the EU ballot.
Provisional results:
- UMP: 28 seats (28.5%)
- Socialists: 14 seats (16%)
- Greens: 14 seats (16%)
- Modem (liberal): 6 seats (8.5%)
- Front de gauche (left): 5 seats (6.7%)
- Front National (far-right): 3 seats (6.3%)
- Libertas (nationalist): 1 seat (4.6%)
- NPA (Left): 1 seat (4.9%)
- Otther: 8.5%
(EurActiv with Reuters.)
