France’s far-right National Rally and its allies have won a record 14 seats in the Senate elections, nearly quadrupling their presence in the 348-seat upper chamber, according to AFP tallies reported Sunday.

Nine National Rally senators were elected Sunday, joining three who won seats in 2023, with two more elected from ally Eric Ciotti’s Union of the Right for the Republic. The result clears the 10-seat threshold for forming a Senate group for the first time.

Party presidential candidate Marine Le Pen called the result an “historic victory” that “exceeded our expectations.” Party president Jordan Bardella said the RN senators would form a group with the UDR allies, gaining speaking time, committee places and public funding.

Senators are chosen by local elected officials for six-year terms, with half the chamber renewed every three years. The long-serving Republicans president of the chamber, Gerard Larcher, is still expected to be re-elected next week.

The gains give the far right an institutional foothold in the upper house ahead of the 2027 presidential race, even as conservatives keep Senate control.