PARIS, (Reuter) - France will hold an early two-stage parliamentary election on May 25 and June 1, ahead of the scheduled March 1998 date. The following is a summary of the main issues so far. French President Jacques Chirac said he wanted an early vote to allow French people a say on the speed and scale of economic reform and put France in a strong position in negotiations on Europe ahead on the launch of a single currency Financial market analysts give following additional reasons: it will make it easier to push through new austerity measures, likely in the 1998 budget due in the autumn, assuming the centre-right coalition returns to power, Chirac will have a "friendly" parliament until end of his term in 2002, allowing him to push through economic reforms, it limits potential damage from judicial inquiries into party financing by allowing Chirac to drop some ministers. General feeling is ruling centre-right coalition, which has strict whip majority of 464 of National Assembly's 577 seats, will probably win with slimmer majority, but some say the result will be very close, pointing to narrow 51 percent victory in Maastricht referendum in 1992, chances of protest vote against unpopular Prime Minister Alain Juppe, worries about record 12.8 percent unemployment. Franc will continue to suffer, although dramatic slide is not being countenanced for now. Remains vulnerable but can be supported by central bank with healthy German mark reserves. Both left and right main political groupings committed to launching single euro currency, though Socialist party leader Lionel Jospin has said he is not prepared to impose new bout of austerity to meet strict interpretation of Maastricht criteria. Prime Minister Alain Juppe is expected by economists to stick largely to current policies, curbing public spending and gradually lowering income taxes, and rolling back state control, possibly with a slightly more free-market twist. New austerity measures expected in 1998 budget, under a Juppe government, while Socialist party has said it is against another round of belt-tightening. Room for manoeuvre for any government limited by need to prevent new rise in state deficit, a need recognised by both parties not just to meet monetary union entry requirements but also to head off risk of big debt repayments in future. Both main political groupings therefore seeking policies that will boost growth and bring down record unemployment, without big increases in public spending. Socialist party wants to fuel demand via regulated, non-inflationary wage rises, cutting working week without reducing pay and through job creation schemes. Government says its public spending cuts and tax reductions will boost business confidence, leave way clear for low interest rates, and pave the way for more investment, growth and jobs. May 7, unaffected. Socialist party may try to halt new privatisations, including sale of France Telecom.