Rassemblement National Establishes Historic Senate Group in 2026 Elections

The Rassemblement National (RN) has made a historic breakthrough by forming its first-ever parliamentary group in the French Senate following the September 2026 senatorial elections. This achievement represents a significant institutional milestone for the far-right party ahead of the 2027 presidential elections.

The elections, which involved about 94,000 grand electors choosing 178 senators, resulted in the RN increasing its presence from three to between ten and fourteen senators. Key victories included securing seats in Bouches-du-Rhône, Gironde, and Var, notably two seats in the Var led by Franck Giletti. RN president Jordan Bardella highlighted that the new group, supported by an alliance with the Union des droites pour la République, will champion neglected rural areas and local leaders often sidelined by the Parisian political establishment.

Despite the RN's gains, the broader political balance in the Senate remains largely unchanged, with the right and center-right maintaining their majority. Around 127 senators represent the right, 72 the center-right, and 24 the center, while the left holds 74 seats. The extreme right now outnumbers the Greens with 15 senators compared to 12 for the latter. Additionally, La France Insoumise (LFI) entered the Senate for the first time with Gabriel Amard's election in Rhône, marking a symbolic expansion for the left.

Marine Le Pen, the RN's 2027 presidential candidate, celebrated the results as a "historic victory and a major step" for the party, noting this success as an "institutional breakthrough" that exceeded expectations. Meanwhile, concerns have been voiced on the left about the growing influence of the RN within the Senate and its potential porous relationship with Les Républicains under Bruno Retailleau's leadership.

The election also reinforced the Senate's existing leadership structure, with Gérard Larcher expected to be re-elected as Senate President for a further three years, continuing the right's strong hold on the chamber.

This senatorial election outcome solidifies RN's transition from a marginal presence to a significant institutional force, underscoring a shift in the French political landscape ahead of next year’s presidential contest.