French Cabinet Resigns After Legislative Vote

striker
June 18, 2012 03:37 AM

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Votes are seen through a polling box during legislative election in Saint Germain-en-Laye, 15 kms west of Paris, Sunday, June 17, 2012.

PARIS – France's Socialist government has officially resigned, in keeping with tradition after legislative elections.

President Francois Hollande's office said Monday that he immediately re-appointed Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault and asked him to form a new government — which was expected to be nearly identical to the outgoing cabinet.

The procedural step came as the Socialists vaulted to dominance in the 577-seat National Assembly in Sunday's elections for the National Assembly. It gives Hollande — who was elected last month — the legislative free hand he needs to push forward with his leftist reform program.

Conservative allies of former President Nicolas Sarkozy were the election's biggest losers. The anti-immigration National Front won two seats — its best showing in the Assembly since the late 1980s — though its leader Marine Le Pen narrowly lost her bid to win a swept.