French general election, 2001 (The Victory)

General elections to elect 774 members of the lower house, the Corps Législatif. To the general surprise, Prime Minister Jacques Chirac resigned as Leader of the PDF and was replaced by personal rival, Nicolas Sarkozy. A campaign based around immigration, law and order, and social laws led to the election of a PDF-dominated government.

New Leadership after Elections
Prime Minister of France: Nicolas Sarkozy Leader of the Lower House Opposition: Laurent Fabius (2001-2004), Ségolène Royal (2004-)