France's far-right National Rally party and its allies secured enough seats in Sunday's indirect Senate elections to form their own parliamentary group in the upper house, a first for the party, according to multiple outlets.
France 24 reported the National Rally and its allies won 14 seats out of 348 in the vote. Half of France's Senate is elected through indirect voting every three years, with senators serving six-year terms in the chamber, which is dominated by right-wing parties.
Bloomberg reported that French conservatives are set to keep their Senate majority even as the far right made gains in the election.
The Straits Times and Reuters both reported that French far-right leaders said their party and its right-wing allies had won enough seats to form their own caucus in the Senate.
How each side covered it
Left
- Bloomberg reported that French conservatives are set to retain their Senate majority.
- Bloomberg noted the far right made gains in the same election.
“French Conservatives to Keep Senate Majority as Far Right Gains” — Bloomberg
Center
- France 24 and the South China Morning Post reported the National Rally will form its first-ever Senate parliamentary group.
- France 24 reported the far-right bloc won 14 of 348 seats.
- France 24 explained that half the Senate is elected indirectly every three years, with six-year terms.
- The Straits Times and Reuters reported that far-right leaders themselves announced they had won enough seats to form a caucus.
“France's far right gains ground in indirect Senate elections” — France 24
Questions readers ask
What happened in France's Senate elections?
France's far-right National Rally party and its allies won enough seats in Sunday's indirect Senate elections to form a parliamentary group in the upper house for the first time in the party's history, according to multiple outlets.
How many seats did the far right win?
France 24 reported that the National Rally and its allies won 14 seats out of 348 in the Senate election.
Did conservatives lose control of the Senate?
No. Bloomberg reported that French conservatives are set to keep their Senate majority even as the far right made gains.
How is the French Senate elected?
According to France 24, half of the French Senate is elected through indirect voting every three years, with senators serving six-year terms in a chamber traditionally dominated by right-wing parties.
Why does this matter?
The formation of a National Rally parliamentary group in the Senate would mark the first time the far-right party has held such a group in the upper house, according to the South China Morning Post and France 24.
Sources · 6 outlet reports
- BloombergLeft-leaningFrench Conservatives to Keep Senate Majority as Far Right Gains
- The GuardianLeft-leaningFrance’s far-right National Rally surges in Senate elections
- France 24CenterFrance's far right gains ground in indirect Senate elections
- ReutersCenterFrench far-right leaders say they have won enough seats to form Senate caucus
- South China Morning PostCenterFrench far-right to form first Senate parliamentary group, early results show
- The Straits TimesCenterFrench far-right leaders say they have won enough seats to form Senate caucus