Le Pen hails ‘historic victory’ as far-right secures senate group ahead of 2027 presidential polls

Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) has secured enough seats to form a parliamentary group in France’s Senate for the first time, marking a breakthrough for the party less than a year before the 2027 presidential election.The RN and its smaller ally, the Union of the Right for the Republic (UDR), will have at least 15 seats in the 348-member upper house, exceeding the minimum 10 required to form a group. The results of the weekend election were published on Monday.The RN won nine seats, while the UDR, led by Eric Ciotti, secured three. The party’s presence in the Senate will allow it to participate in influential committees that examine and shape legislation."This is a historic victory, and a major milestone with the formation for the first time of a group in the Senate," Le Pen said on X.RN president Jordan Bardella, who is eyeing the post of prime minister if Le Pen becomes president, said the results confirmed "the momentum of our movement as we approach the mother of all battles -- the presidential election"."If our compatriots so desire, we will very soon govern France," he said.Le Pen leads presidential pollThe Senate results came as a new Toluna-Harris survey for French television channels RTL and M6 showed Le Pen leading the first round of the 2027 presidential election, scheduled for April 18, with 35% to 36% of the vote.The poll projected that she would reach the run-off against hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) leader Jean-Luc Melenchon, who was seen securing 17% to 18%. Centrist hopeful Edouard Philippe was projected to win 13% to 16%.In the second round, Le Pen was projected to defeat both Melenchon and Philippe. She was seen winning 69% of the vote against Melenchon and 57% against Philippe.The survey was conducted from September 22 to 24. A previous poll published on September 14 had put Le Pen at 33% in the first round.RN expands presence in SenateThe Senate is elected indirectly by local elected officials, with half of its members chosen every three years for six-year terms. The chamber has traditionally been dominated by the right and shares legislative responsibilities with the lower National Assembly.The RN first entered the Senate in 2014, when it was known as the National Front, winning two seats. It secured three seats in 2023. The latest results take the far-right party and its ally to at least 15 seats.The Republicans (LR), the main right-wing party, are expected to retain their dominance in the Senate despite losing seats. Senate speaker Gerard Larcher, 77, is also expected to remain in office.The left-wing LFI won its first-ever Senate seat.The RN emerged as the largest single party in the National Assembly after President Emmanuel Macron called snap elections in 2024, but fell short of securing a majority.French daily Le Monde described the Senate results as a "warning", saying they showed "the extent to which the RN has established itself within our institutions in barely ten years"."The far-right breakthrough was expected, and the result does not alter the Senate majority... Yet a new threshold has been crossed," it added.Hollande keeps 2027 presidential bid openMeanwhile, former French president Francois Hollande has said he may consider contesting the 2027 presidential election, but only if he sees a realistic chance of winning."Running for the presidency is not a decision to be taken lightly, all the more so for a former head of state like myself," Hollande told Italian daily La Repubblica on Monday.The 72-year-old, who served as president from 2012 to 2017, said he would consider entering the race only under exceptional circumstances and if he had a realistic possibility of reaching the run-off and ultimately winning."The France of 2027 bears little resemblance to the one I governed. We are facing a more threatening, more dangerous and harsher world, and a European continent that has become a target for powers such as the United States, China and Russia. Europe is confronting an existential crisis," Hollande said.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.