Macron's party wins clear parliamentary majority

French President Emmanuel Macron's centrist party won a massive majority in parliamentary elections on Sunday, dominating the country's traditional forces in a dramatic re-drawing of the political map.

An Elabe estimate broadcast on French television suggests his centrist movement will win as many as 425 seats out of the 577 up for grabs in the national assembly. That is far more than the 289 seats needed for an absolute majority to carry out his programme. They urged voters not to allow too much power to be concentrated in the hands of one party and warned Macron's MPs would be mere yes-men who would rubber-stamp legislation. Impressive. Now its governing that counts.

The same poll predicts that the Republicans and their allies will get between 70 and 110 seats and the left alliance, comprising the Socialist Party (PS) and its allies, including Europe Ecology, will get 20-30 seats - another significant setback in a series for the left which started with former Socialist President Francois Hollande's record low approval ratings. He said lawmakers in his conservative party are going to have a strong enough bloc in the lower house of parliament to be able to voice their views.

However, some prickly opponents vowed to do their best to counter Macron's plans.

Macron fulfilled his wish to disrupt politics as usual with a a new approach and new faces - including a farmer, a teacher and a math genius.

Le Pen's victory in the northern former coal-mining town of Henin-Beaumont was a rare bright spot for her nationalist and anti-EU party that was once hoping to emerge as the principal opposition to Macron.

Gilbert Collard, an outgoing lawmaker held off the challenge of a former bullfighter to keep his seat in the southeast of the country, while Le Pen said at least five other candidates in the north of the country won seats.

Far-left ex-presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon is voting in the Mediterranean city of Marseille, where he is seeking a seat as well.

France's 10-year government bond yield edged back towards seven-month lows around 0.58 percent hit last week after a first round of parliamentary elections pointed to a strong showing for Macron's fledgling party. Experts partly blamed voter fatigue following the May election of Macron, plus voter disappointment with politics.

It is also entirely unexpected: Macron was unknown three years ago and initially given little chance of emerging as president, but he and his 16-month-old REM have tapped into widespread desire for change.

Confusion also played a role, according to Frederic Dabi of the IFOP polling firm.

The Socialists are set to be the biggest victim of voters' desire to oust establishment figures associated with years of high unemployment, social unrest and lost national confidence.

He said the Socialist party needs to change its ideas and its organization and that a "collective leadership" will replace him.

He won instant plaudits from France's closest ally Germany, with Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokesman hailing his "clear parliamentary majority". The stinging reality of defeat pushed party leader Jean-Christophe Cambadelis, who lost in last week's first-round vote, to resign - and blast the Macron system "with all the power".