French far right forms first-ever caucus in Senate

PARIS -- The National Rally (RN) will form a political caucus in the French Senate for the first time in the far-right party's history, according to preliminary results from the Senate elections held Sunday.

"This is a historic victory and a major milestone," RN leader Marine Le Pen, who is also the party's presidential candidate for 2027 election, said on her X page.

The RN will form the caucus with the Union of the Right for the Republic, the small party led by Eric Ciotti, an ally of the RN.

Ciotti told reporters Sunday evening that the caucus would consist of "about fifteen senators."

In the French Senate, each caucus must have at least 10 senators. In the Senate, 178 of the 348 seats were up for election. The right wing remains dominant in the upper chamber, and Senate President Gerard Larcher is expected to be re-elected next Thursday, according to the French press.