Four quick updates

A brief report on the latest developments in some continuing stories, including Catalonia, Japan, France and the United States.

Still no French government

France's left has advanced as far as settling on a candidate for prime minister, but the hard part is yet to come.

The EU's prime minister and the French parliament's speaker both keep their jobs, showing that mainstream parties can sometimes stick together.

Fresh off a massive election loss, Britain's Conservative Party needs to make some decisions about its future.

The results of the French and European elections will be tested tomorrow at legislative sessions in Paris and Strasbourg.

Wrapping up our statistical treatment of the British and French elections with some comparative thoughts.

France votes with much the same system as Australia, and produces a similar level of distortion in its results.

The shape of Britain's new parliament is very much dictated by the electoral system, but it does reflect the voters' intentions in a fashion.

Follow the French legislative results as they happen.

Britain's electoral system lives up to its low expectations. France's may do a little better.