France's Sarkozy turns to forming govt, next polls

By Anna Willard

PARIS (Reuters) - French president-elect Nicolas Sarkozy disappeared on a retreat with his family on Monday to consider his government line-up and plot strategy for a crucial parliamentary election in June.

Sarkozy, a combative conservative, won a strong mandate for political and economic change by winning 53.06 percent of the vote in Sunday's presidential run-off against 46.94 for Socialist Segolene Royal.

But he needs to secure a majority in the election for the National Assembly on June 10 and 17 to make good on his vows to loosen rigid labor laws, trim fat from the public service, cut taxes and restore full employment.

"We are going to see how we can give him the biggest parliamentary majority possible so he can put into effect his undertakings," Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie told reporters outside Sarkozy's campaign headquarters.

Sarkozy left Paris in the morning with his wife and son, after spending the night in a luxury hotel. They arrived unannounced on a private aircraft on the Mediterranean island of Malta, airport sources told Reuters on Monday.

"These few days rest were planned to put him more in the mindset of a president after the tumultuous battle," said Claude Gueant, his campaign director.

"It will also be a few days to let him reflect on the make-up of his government team," he told RTL radio.

His victory passed not without incident. On Monday night, between 300 and 400 youths who were chanting anti-Sarkozy slogans smashed shop windows and burnt at least 2 scooters at the historic Place de la Bastille in central Paris. There were several clashes between youths and police. More than 100 people were arrested.

Police used tear gas to disperse around 400 protestors in the western town of Nantes and french radio also reported several hundred protestors in the towns of Caen and Tours.

Police arrested 592 people overnight between Sunday and Monday after demonstrators set fire to 730 cars and injured 78 policemen in numerous incidents.

SOCIALIST WOUNDS

Sarkozy, the son of a Hungarian immigrant, will take office on May 16, succeeding President Jacques Chirac who is standing down after 12 years in power.

He is widely expected to appoint his closest political aide, Francois Fillon, as prime minister and name women to half the posts in a compact cabinet of just 15 ministers.

As the right prepared to extend their grip on power, France's beaten Socialists looked to the future after suffering their third consecutive defeat at a presidential election.

The moderate wing shaped up for a fight with the left over the heart and soul of the party. But Socialist General Secretary Francois Hollande, who is the partner of Royal, called for a truce until after France's election marathon ended in June.