National Rally and allies qualify for Senate group

Marine Le Pen’s National Rally won nine seats in France’s partial Senate election, giving the party and its ally, the Union of the Right for the Republic, enough elected senators to form a group in the upper house for the first time, according to reported results. The group is expected to have at least 14 members, though one account said the total could reach 15 if a Republican who announced a switch is included; that membership was not confirmed. The nine new National Rally senators join three whose terms were not contested. Two candidates from the Union of the Right for the Republic, led by Éric Ciotti, also won seats. National Rally leader Jordan Bardella said the party’s senators would form a group with the allies. The Senate requires 10 members to establish a group, which brings parliamentary rights and resources, including speaking time and the ability to request an inquiry. The election renewed 178 of the Senate’s 348 seats. Senators are chosen by local elected officials rather than directly by voters. The results followed National Rally gains in municipal elections in March, which expanded its potential pool of electors.