Leftists predicted to win in French elections

Independent research firms ave predicted President Francois Hollande’s Socialists and other left wing parties will likely assume a majority in French lower house elections.
French people on Sunday cast their votes in the first round of lower house balloting. 577 seats are being contested. A runoff would be held next Sunday if no candidate gets a majority.
Research firms are predicting that the Socialist Party, the Green Party, and other parties on the left will garner a majority, or more than 289 seats.
The UMP Party and other rightists who supported former President Nicolas Sarkozy will likely get about 270 at the most.