France's Far-Right Wins Record Seats
National Rally secures 14 seats in Senate, quadrupling its presence, while France Unbowed wins its first seat in the upper chamber
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Nine RN senators were elected, in addition to the three who won seats in 2023.
Story published. National Rally secures 14 seats in Senate, quadrupling its presence, while France Unbowed wins its first seat in the upper chamber
The French Senate election has resulted in a significant gain for the far-right National Rally party, which has secured a record 14 seats in the 348-seat chamber. This marks a quadrupling of the party's presence in the Senate, allowing it to form its own parliamentary group for the first time.
The National Rally party and its allies have secured at least 15 seats in total, with the party's leader, Marine Le Pen, calling the results a 'historic victory'. The party's senators will form an alliance with the Union of the Right for the Republic (UDR).
Les Républicains remain the largest force in the Senate, with 123 senators, alongside their allies in the Centrist Union, who hold 71 seats. The group backing Emmanuel Macron in the Senate, the RDPI, is expected to fall from 19 to 14 senators.
La France Insoumise (LFI) has also made a significant gain, winning its first seat in the Senate with the election of Gabriel Amard. This marks a symbolic arrival for the party in the Luxembourg Palace.
## What it means The overall balance of power in the Senate remains largely unchanged, despite the significant gains made by the National Rally party. The right, centre, and left-wing Socialists are expected to remain the three major forces in the upper house.
The Senate election was held on Sunday, with half of the upper chamber renewed in 63 départements, particularly in the south, though not in the Paris region. The election marks an important milestone ahead of the 2027 presidential election, with Marine Le Pen preparing to run as the National Rally party's candidate.
## Why it matters The National Rally party's gains in the Senate reflect its growing local roots, especially around the Mediterranean, and the gains it made in last March's municipal elections. The party's ability to form its own parliamentary group will give it more funding and the right to request a Senate inquiry committee each year. This could have significant implications for the party's influence in French politics ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
