French far-right meets threshold to form Senate caucus for first time

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French far-right figures say the National Rally and its right-wing allies have secured enough seats in Sunday's indirect election of senators to establish their own caucus.

It marks the first time the party has surpassed the 10-seat threshold required for a Senate caucus, as it prepares for a 2027 presidential race in which opinion polls show it leading the first round.

"The results have exceeded our expectations," Marine Le Pen, the party's leader and presidential candidate, said in a post on X.

Ms Le Pen is aiming to win the presidency in the two-round spring election, though previous attempts by the far right to reach the country's highest elected office have repeatedly been thwarted.

A total of 178 of the 348 seats in the upper chamber were contested in Sunday's vote. The party did not specify how many seats it had won.

Senators are elected by lawmakers in the National Assembly and local elected representatives, with group leaders holding powers such as the ability to request votes.