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France’s far-right National Rally gains ground in Senate, forms group for first time
France 24 • • world
Key Points:
- France's far-right National Rally (RN) and its allies won a record 14 seats in the Senate, quadrupling their representation in the 348-seat chamber ahead of the presidential election.
- RN presidential candidate Marine Le Pen called the results a "historic victory" and highlighted the formation of the party's first Senate group.
- The RN secured nine new Senate seats in the latest vote, adding to three won in 2023, while two more seats went to RN ally Eric Ciotti's Union of the Right for the Republic (UDR).
- The Senate remains dominated by right, center, and Socialist parties, with the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) winning its first-ever seat.
- Le Pen's party is poised for a strong showing in the upcoming 2024 elections as centrist President Emmanuel Macron prepares to step down.
