Sarkozy looks to parliament poll

President Sarkozy says he will reform France quickly

The campaign for next month's legislative elections in France has officially opened.

The fresh round of voting follows the election of right-of-centre President Nicolas Sarkozy on 6 May.

Mr Sarkozy is hoping to gain large parliamentary support to carry out far-reaching reforms aimed at reviving France's faltering economy.

Polls suggest his UMP party may win 40% of the vote, giving it an absolute majority in the national assembly.

The polls indicate the UMP could get at least 365 of the chamber's 577 seats - far more than the opposition Socialists, who are predicted to win 28% of the vote.

The legislative election will be held in two rounds, on 10 and 17 June.

Benefits reform

At the weekend Socialist Party leader Francois Hollande warned followers that an overwhelming majority for the right would put all power in the hands of the president.

KEY REFORMS IN SARKOZY PLAN Exempting overtime from social security charges Not replacing half of retiring public servants Forcing the unemployed to accept work Ending special pensions enjoyed by some in public sector

Mr Sarkozy's economic programme includes encouraging overtime to spur growth.

He also wants to cut taxes, trim down the state sector and reform the system of unemployment benefits and pensions.

Mr Sarkozy has pledged to implement his programme quickly.

"We shall carry out all the reforms at the same time, not one after the other," he said on Friday.

He has named a Cabinet that includes centrists and dissident left-wingers - including Socialist Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner.