France's National Rally party wins enough Senate seats to form its first caucus

In France, the far-right National Rally party, led by Marine Le Pen, and its right-wing ally UDR won enough seats in the Senate election on September 27, 2026, to form their own caucus for the first time. The indirect election filled 178 of the 348 Senate seats, with lawmakers and local representatives voting. The party exceeded the 10-seat threshold, securing 9 senators plus 2 from UDR. This achievement marks a historic first for the far right in the upper house since World War II. Le Pen expressed that results exceeded expectations, as she prepares for the 2027 presidential race.