(2 Jun 1997) French/Nat

France's victorious Socialist leader Lionel Jospin arrived to a rapturous welcome at his party headquarters in Paris in the early hours of Monday.

The Socialists and its coalition booked a stunning victory in the parliamentary elections - a triumphant comeback after its crushing defeat in 1993 legislative elections.

Their victory forced President Jacques Chirac into sharing power with a hostile left-wing government.

Hundreds of party faithful braved the rain to catch a glimpse of their leader - the man expected to be named prime minister on Monday.

Socialist leader Lionel Jospin was whisked through cheering crowds as he headed for the Socialist Party headquarters at the Boulevard Saint Germain.

Speaking from the balcony of the headquarters , Jospin said the left had been given a fresh mandate to rule France again.

SOUNDBITE:(French)
"Milllions of men and women who voted have given us again - I won't say trust because it's up to us to win this trust again or to keep it - but in any case an historic chance for the forces of the left, and progress to direct the country again."
SUPER CAPTION: Lionel Jospin, Socialist Party Leader and Prime Minister designate

Socialist party supporters had reason to dance into the night.

According to final official results from the Interior Ministry, the Socialist-led coalition took 275 seats to the conservatives' 262.

The Communists had cause for celebration too.

The party won 39 seats and boosted their representation in the National Assembly.

The Socialists are likely to need the support of the Communists in parliament, with whom they have quarreled over policy.

But speaking at the offices of the Communist newspaper Humanite, party leader Robert Hue struck a conciliatory note.

SOUNDBITE:(French)
"It can't be the same experiment. (referring to 1981) We mustn't above all repeat the same mistakes. But at the same time, now the left has to succeed. My willingness is very clear: I definitely don't intend to put a spoke in the wheel. On the contrary, I want this to work."
SUPER CAPTION: Robert Hue, Communist Party Leader

France may be celebrating what many see as a new political era, but its leaders face the difficult task of forming a coalition government with a much weakened president.

Jacques Chirac will be stuck in a "cohabitation" with a hostile left-wing government until the end of his term in 2002, unless he calls elections again and wins.

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