France's Green party won 17 seats in the country's general election Sunday, an unprecedented score that makes it prominent enough to form its own parliamentary group, giving it more clout in political decision-making.

France's Green party, Europe Ecologie-Les Verts, won 17 seats in the newly-elected French parliament, an unprecedented score for a party that has so far had a minor role in national politics.

"It is a first in the history of this republic," Green senator Jean-Vincent Placé told FRANCE 24. "We have established a solid position to exert influence on public policies."

Only four of its members were part of the previous national assembly, and its candidate in the presidential race, Eva Joly, won a mere 2.3% of the votes in May.