France – far right forms a parliamentary group for the first time

PARIS, 28 September /ATSH-DPA/ – National Rally, Marine Le Pen’s party, made a significant breakthrough in the French Senate elections held yesterday, securing for the first time the number of senators needed to form a parliamentary group in the upper house of parliament.

Le Pen described the result as a historic victory and a historic moment, even before the full count was finished. She wrote on X that the results had exceeded all of the party’s expectations and that the gains showed growing support for National Rally across France.

About half of the Senate seats were up for election yesterday. Unlike the parliamentary elections for the National Assembly, French senators are not directly elected by citizens.

They are chosen indirectly by around 93,000 elected representatives, mostly at local and regional level.

The Senate has traditionally been dominated by conservative forces and no major shift in the political balance was expected.

Conservative Republicans had so far 131 seats, being the largest group, while President Emmanuel Macron’s camp had 19 senators.

Before these elections, National Rally had only three Senate seats, far short of the 10 seats needed to form a parliamentary group.

The growth in RN senators was also helped by the support of a new right-wing force that split from the Republicans, led by the party’s former chairman, Éric Ciotti, who has been mayor of Nice since late March.

The creation of the parliamentary group gives National Rally greater rights and opportunities within the Senate, including more speaking time, opportunities to question the government and a role in setting the parliamentary agenda.

The result is also a significant development for Marine Le Pen as she prepares for next year’s presidential race.