Sarkozy set for parliamentary majority -Belgian radio

BRUSSELS, June 17 (Reuters) President Nicolas Sarkozy's centre-right allies were heading for a comfortable majority in today's French parliamentary election, but failed to secure a widely-expected landslide, Belgian radio said.

RTBF radio quoted first poll projections on the ballot which by law cannot be published in France until the last polling stations close at 8.00 p.m. (1800 GMT).

The radio said Sarkozy's ruling UMP party would win between 305 to 309 seats in the 577-seat National Assembly, while the opposition Socialists would win between 215 and 225 seats.

Pollsters had predicted after the first round vote on June 10 that the UMP would win more than 400 seats, but the party's popularity took a beating after ministers admitted they were considering a sharp hike in value added tax, a broad sales tax.

The UMP had 359 seats in the outgoing parliament and the Socialists 149.

REUTERS PJ RAI2347