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FRANCE-POLITICS
Macron opponents claim victory in France Senate poll
PARIS, Sept 28, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – The right-wing opposition on Monday
claimed victory in elections for France’s upper house, underlining the
political struggles of the centrist ruling party of President Emmanuel
Macron.
The Senate’s members are not directly elected by voters, but instead by
tens of thousands of local councillors who are themselves elected by the
people.
After Macron’s Republic on the Move (LREM) party performed woefully in
local elections earlier this year, it was never expected to make any
significant impact in the Senate vote.
While the chamber has some authority, especially over constitutional
issues, it lacks the power of the National Assembly lower house, which has
been controlled by LREM since 2017.
Nevertheless, the leader of the right-wing Republicans Christian Jacob
told France Inter radio: “We have renewed ourselves with this victory.”
The party claimed to have upped its Senate seats by 10 to 154 in the 348-
seat chamber.
The election showed that the opposition is not complacent, said Bruno
Retailleau, head of the Republicans in the Senate.
However, because of the volatile nature of political affiliation in the
Senate, the full breakdown will probably only become clear on Thursday when
it meets to elect its speaker.
The poll — held every three years for half the chamber’s seats — was not
a disaster for the LREM, which was expected to hold on to its current 23
members.
Meanwhile, the Greens said they expected to return at least 10 senators
and the Socialist Party was expected to lose some seats but maintain its
status as the second biggest faction.
But the health of LREM, and in particular its failure to put down roots at
the local level, is a growing headache for Macron as he prepares to seek re-
election in 2022.
Roughly two dozen MPs defected from LREM to other groups earlier this
year, robbing the party of its overall majority, although the make-up of the
National Assembly means it can still pass legislation.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 1644 hrs