French politicians hail Democrats' win in US midterm elections
Economy Minister Roland Lescure said Trump would be weakened on domestic policy but would still control foreign affairs.
French politicians welcomed the Democrats' US midterm victory on Wednesday, describing it as a setback for President Donald Trump, Turkey's state-run news agency Anadolu Agency reported.
Economy Minister Roland Lescure called the Democratic win "undeniable" and noted that Trump himself had acknowledged the result.
Speaking to broadcaster BFMTV, Lescure said Trump would be in a "quite weakened" position on domestic policy, facing what he called a situation of cohabitation.
He added that the US president would still control foreign policy, citing his "unpredictable character."
Raphael Glucksmann, a social-democratic presidential candidate, praised a "victory of democracy and decency" after the Democrats' gains, the broadcaster reported.
Glucksmann said there was no inevitability in politics and that the democratic resurgence offered hope to everyone.
He warned, however, that Trump retained a "major capacity for international disruption" despite the electoral setback.
Speaking to broadcaster RTL, far-right National Rally party leader Jordan Bardella suggested that the economic fallout from the US intervention in Iran may have contributed to Trump's defeat.
Bardella stressed that the choice of American voters must be respected, whatever the outcome.
The midterm elections were held on Tuesday, with Democrats projected to win control of the Senate with 53 seats against 42 for Republicans, while counting continued in the remaining races.
Democrats were also poised to win at least 218 seats in the 435-member House of Representatives, the threshold needed for a majority.
Midterm elections take place midway through a US president's term and decide all House seats and about a third of Senate seats.
