Le Pen’s party says it can form its first Senate group

Rassemblement National (RN) and its ally UDR have enough senators to form a parliamentary group after Sunday’s partial election, RN chairman Jordan Bardella said. It would be the first Senate group for Marine Le Pen’s party and would give it more speaking time and resources. [1]

RN had three senators before the vote and gained nine seats, while UDR won two. Together, the parties have 14 seats, above the 10 needed to form a group. [1]

Nearly 100,000 local and regional representatives chose half of the Senate’s 348 members; French citizens do not elect senators directly. Le Pen called the result a “historic victory and an important step” in a post on X. [1]