French Senate: RN gains first-ever group, Ciotti's UDR underperforms

In the 2026 French senatorial elections, the Rassemblement national (RN) secured a parliamentary group in the Senate for the first time, marking a historic breakthrough. Meanwhile, its ally UDR, led by Éric Ciotti, failed to make a significant impact, highlighting internal right-wing dynamics ahead of the 2027 presidential race.