France's Socialist government has officially resigned, in keeping with tradition after legislative elections.

President Francois Hollande's office said Monday that he immediately re-appointed Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault and asked him to form a new government - which was expected to be nearly identical to the outgoing cabinet.

The procedural step came as the Socialists vaulted to dominance in the 577-seat National Assembly in Sunday's elections for the National Assembly. It gives Hollande - who was elected last month - the legislative free hand he needs to push forward with his leftist reform program.

Conservative allies of former President Nicolas Sarkozy were the election's biggest losers. The anti-immigration National Front won two seats - its best showing in the Assembly since the late 1980s - though its leader Marine Le Pen narrowly lost her bid to win a swept.