French parliament gathers to enact Sarkozy agenda

PARIS, June 26 (Reuters) A new French parliament expected to drive through President Nicolas Sarkozy's overhaul of tax, education and justice met for the first time today ahead of a frenetic summer of reform.

Sarkozy's centre-right UMP party and its allies enjoy a commanding majority of 345 seats in the 577-seat National Assembly after elections this month, meaning the packet of measures should have an easy passage.

The main event scheduled for today was the election of Bernard Accoyer, the former head of the UMP parliamentary group as speaker of the National Assembly.

A special session beginning next week is expected to lay the foundations for Sarkozy's ambitious pledge to inject new vigour into France's economy with a programme of tax cuts and measures he says will reward work.

Sarkozy, elected in May, has begun his term in office with a burst of activity intended to underline his break with the policies of past governments that he believes failed to attack France's problems with sufficient vigour.

Prime Minister Francois Fillon is due to outline his broad policy agenda on July 3 and a formal vote of confidence in his government will kick off a special session of parliament that is expected to run until August 2 or 3.

FRENETIC MONTH The July session will cover a packed agenda and should pass Sarkozy's 14.81 billion dollars fiscal stimulus package that will offer tax relief on mortgage interest payments and waive tax on overtime.

The package also includes measures to control so-called ''golden parachutes'' after widespread outrage over a number of big payouts to corporate bosses.

Parliament will also debate a proposed law that would force public transport workers to provide a minimum service during strikes as well as a package of measures to set compulsory minimum sentences for both adult and juvenile repeat offenders.

The government is still finalising the details of a proposed reform of higher education but the broad outlines of the plan, that would give universities more financial and operational autonomy, have been long announced.

A separate law, tightening conditions on immigration, will be held over until September because of time constraints.

The Socialist opposition will have little chance to alter the package during the debates given the size of the ruling majority. They can disrupt bills and in the past have tabled thousands of amendments to hold up the government.

Sarkozy says he wants to develop more constructive relations with the opposition and has pledged to support a Socialist as head of the influential parliamentary finance committee.

REUTERS AK HS1946