The French far right demonstrated a significant gain in the recent Senate elections, acquiring 15 seats in the upper chamber and increasing its number of senators fourfold. This achievement comes less than seven months before the presidential elections, according to reports from AFP and Agerpres. Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN), which previously held three Senate seats, successfully added nine new senators, while its allies from the Union of the Right for the Republic (UDR) secured three additional seats during this election, which saw a renewal of just over half of the 348 mandates in the chamber.
Jordan Bardella, the party president, noted on X that, “for the first time in its history, the National Rally, along with its allies, will form a group in the Senate.” Marine Le Pen celebrated what she termed a “historic victory” and a significant milestone, reflecting on the broader progress of the National Rally across France.
The RN had already emerged as the largest party in the National Assembly (the lower house of parliament) following the 2024 legislative elections, boasting 119 representatives and three affiliates. This recent Senate success is not merely symbolic; with over ten elected officials, the RN can now establish a parliamentary group, granting it more time for speeches, additional resources, and crucial backing for Le Pen’s presidential campaign.
As the attention shifts toward the upcoming presidential battle in 2027, this indirect election, mirroring the municipal votes from March, will be closely analyzed by party leaderships with the presidential elections looming. Notably, the RN’s local presence has markedly improved, evidenced by sometimes fivefold increases in scores compared to the last election in 2020. In contrast, the radical left party La France Insoumise (LFI), led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, has maintained a minimal presence, though it managed to secure a seat for the first time.
Despite this surge from the far right, the control of the Senate remains largely intact for the right-wing Republicans (LR), whose candidate Bruno Retailleau was re-elected alongside his centrist allies.
