French Senate election: National Rally secures group, France Unbowed wins first seat

As France prepares for its 2027 presidential election, the Senate race has marked a significant milestone for the far-right National Rally (RN) and its allies, UDR. In the Senate vote, which saw half of the chamber up for renewal in 63 départements, the RN and UDR secured at least 15 seats and the potential to form a parliamentary group.

The party's local roots, particularly in the Mediterranean region, and its recent municipal election victories have contributed to this success. RN President Jordan Bardella hailed the results as a milestone, marking a step towards Marine Le Pen's expected presidential victory. Le Pen called the outcome a "historic victory," emphasizing the creation of the first Senate group for the RN.

The right-wing majority remains strong, with the Les Républicains party holding a majority of 123 seats, followed by their allies in the Centrist Union, who hold 71. The Socialist Party is holding steady, expected to retain its position as the second-largest force in the chamber. The group backing Emmanuel Macron, the RDPI, is projected to lose ground, falling to 14 senators, nearly equaling the RN-UDR group and the Greens.

For the first time, La France Insoumise (LFI) has secured a seat in the Senate, with Gabriel Amard, son-in-law of party leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, winning in the Rhône. Mélenchon praised the strong performance of his party, which he claims achieves higher scores than its number of grands électeurs in every département. The LFI's first senator, Amard, remains undecided on which group to join, reflecting the complex political landscape ahead of the 2027 presidential election.