Centrist Coalition Wins in France

France's center-right political coalition, which has held power for the last 20 years, won a decisive majority in the second round of national elections yesterday, staving off a strong challenge from the Socialist-Communist alliance.

Communist leader Georges Marchais conceded defeat after the elections for the National Assembly, saying, "The majority will remain in power, but it is a shrunken majority that is weakening."

President Valery Giscard-d'Estaing's ruling coalition won 288 seats in the 491-seat assembly, compared to 199 for the leftists, a smaller majority than in the last assembly.