French Senate elections: Far right can form group for first time, right conserves majority

France's National Rally (RN) party and its allies achieved a historic milestone in the September 27 elections, securing 14 seats in the country's 348-member Senate. This marks the first time the RN has crossed the threshold to form a caucus, surpassing the previous record. National Rally co-leader Marine Le Pen hailed the result as a significant victory, occurring just months before the country's presidential election, in which she is considered a frontrunner.

Although the right-wing-dominated Senate holds less influence than the National Assembly, the outcome highlights the growing popularity of the far-right across France and Europe.

Senate members are elected by local officials every three years, serving six-year terms. The Senate shares legislative powers and represents France's territorial communities. The far-right party first entered the upper chamber in 2014, accumulating nine seats in the September vote, augmenting the three won in 2023. Additionally, the Union of the Right for the Republic (UDR) party, an ally of RN, secured two seats. The RN leadership plans to form a parliamentary group with UDR representatives.

Le Pen emphasized that her senators will play a crucial role in the presidential campaign, advocating for and defending the voice of local communities. The anti-immigration, nationalist RN is the most popular party in France, and its strength in the Senate election suggests a surge in far-right sentiment across the country. Polls consistently show Le Pen ahead in the April 2027 presidential race, which will see her facing no incumbent due to President Emmanuel Macron's completion of his two consecutive terms.

The RN has faced criticism over its stance on Russia since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but Le Pen and UDR co-leader Jordan Bardella have since distanced themselves from Moscow's actions and called for continued military support for Ukraine, albeit with a reduction in financial backing.