French left seizes Senate majority, hurts Sarkozy [View All]

[RandySF]

(Reuters) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy's conservative government lost its majority in the Senate to the left on Sunday, officials said, in a historic defeat that deals him a blow just seven months before a presidential election.

For the first time since 1958, the right-dominated upper house swung to a left-wing majority as the body's membership underwent a major generational change of guard.

Early results from the indirect elections showed left-wing candidates took at least 23 seats from the ruling conservative party, securing them an absolute majority.


http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/25/us-france-senate-idUSTRE78O2G620110925