Marine Le Pen has hailed a “historic victory” after her National Rally (RN) and its ally secured enough seats to establish a parliamentary group in the French Senate for the first time.
Following Sunday’s vote, RN and the Union of the Right for the Republic (UDR) will together control at least 15 seats in the 348-member upper house. Only ten senators are required to establish a formal group, giving its members an expanded role in Senate committees responsible for examining legislation.
“This is a historic victory, and a major milestone with the formation for the first time of a group in the Senate,” Le Pen wrote on X. She said the breakthrough reflected growing support for her party across France and would allow its senators to bring local concerns into the forthcoming presidential campaign.
The result does not change overall control of the Senate, which remains in the hands of the conservative Republicans and their centrist allies. However, RN president Jordan Bardella portrayed the breakthrough as another indication of the party’s growing momentum ahead of what he called “the mother of all battles” – the presidential election.
The Senate gains come after the Paris Court of Appeals in July reduced Le Pen’s five-year prohibition on holding elected office arising from her conviction over misused funds, leaving her able to contest the 2027 presidential race to succeed Emmanuel Macron after his two terms in office.
A Toluna Harris Interactive poll published on Monday placed Le Pen at 35-36% in the first round. It also projected her defeating both France Unbowed leader Jean-Luc Melenchon and former centrist prime minister Edouard Philippe in hypothetical second-round contests.
RN’s arrival as a formal Senate group has already produced a hostile reaction from political opponents. Socialist Senate group leader Patrick Kanner said his party would seek to contain what he described as the “chamber of horrors” entering the upper house.
Le Pen responded by accusing Kanner of “dishonoring himself,” arguing that his remarks insulted both the newly elected senators and the local officials responsible for electing them.
Her possible succession to Macron has also generated concern among Western supporters of Ukraine. The Telegraph reported in August that officials feared a Le Pen presidency could disrupt French-led efforts to coordinate military and financial assistance for Kiev, along with proposals to deploy Western troops following any ceasefire.
RN has consistently challenged Macron’s policy towards the Ukraine conflict. The party opposes open-ended financial support for Kiev and measures it believes could increase the danger of direct confrontation with Russia. Le Pen has instead repeatedly argued for a diplomatic settlement and the eventual normalization of relations with Moscow.
