France’s far-right National Rally surges in Senate elections

Marine Le Pen hails ‘historic victory’ as her party and allies win enough seats to form caucus just months ahead of presidential poll

France’s far-right National Rally (RN) party and its allies have secured a record 14 seats in the rightwing-dominated Senate in elections, effectively quadrupling its number in the 348-seat chamber just months before a presidential poll.

RN presidential candidate Marine Le Pen called the results an “historic victory” after they were announced on Sunday. “The results ‌have exceeded our expectations,” she said.

It was the first time the ⁠party had cleared the 10-seat threshold to be able to form a Senate caucus.

Local elected officials vote for new senators for half the upper chamber every three years, each to serve a six-year term.