Senate elections: Marine Le Pen welcomes the creation of the first RN-UDR group in the Senate
The National Rally and its ally, the Union of the Right for the Republic (UDR), now have enough elected representatives to consider forming a group in the Senate. Marine Le Pen hailed a « historic victory » after the elections of September 27, 2026. The result marks a real breakthrough. But between the seats won and the officially formed group, there remains a step.
The main fact
In a post published after the election, Marine Le Pen celebrates the upcoming arrival of a group in the Luxembourg Palace (the Senate building) and presents the new senators as key players in the presidential campaign. Senate rules stipulate a threshold of ten members for forming a group. They also require the submission of a list of participating senators and a political declaration. The electoral threshold has been met; the formal establishment of the group is still pending.
What happened
On Sunday, September 27, 178 of the 348 Senate seats were up for election. The results published by the Ministry of the Interior confirm, in particular, the election of Edwige Diaz in Gironde and Manon Bouquin in Hérault. These victories contribute to the gains hailed by Marine Le Pen.
The next step takes place within the institution: according to the provisional timetable published by the Senate, the lists of group members and their political declarations must be submitted to its president by October 5, 2026. Announcing a group on election night is therefore a projection based on the results, not yet the registration of its final composition.
The context
The senatorial elections are not a presidential election in miniature. Senators are elected indirectly by an electoral college, approximately 95% of which consists of mayors and delegates from municipal councils. The election thus also reflects the ability of political parties to garner support among local elected officials. This is what gives the breakthrough of the National Rally (RN) and the Union for the Republic (UDR) its political significance—without making it a prediction about the upcoming presidential election.
Key figures
- 178 seats were up for renewal on September 27, 2026, out of the 348 seats in the Senate.
- A minimum of ten senators must join a group to form it.
- Approximately 95% of the electors are drawn from municipal councils.
What the facts show
Marine Le Pen sees these results as confirmation of the RN’s presence « throughout the country. » The seats won attest to progress, but this statement is a political assessment, not a precise geographical meament. Another important distinction: the political affiliation assigned to a candidate during the election does not automatically determine which group they will join. The Senate points out that this affiliation is the subject of a separate declaration after the election.
Key takeaways
The National Rally (RN) and the Union for the Republic (UDR) have reached a milestone in the Senate. Their electoral victory is asd; however, the official composition of their group has yet to be submitted. As for the presidential election mentioned by Marine Le Pen, the Senate elections can inform her campaign strategy. They do not, however, predict how the French will vote.
Source: Marine Le Pen
