The Senators are elected by the "grands électeurs", i.e. local elected representatives from municipalities (142 000 delegates from municipal councils), from departements) (4000 conseillers généraux), from the Regions (1870 conseillers régionaux) and by the members of parliament (577 députés)

The left won a lot of seats in the last élections municipales, cantonales (departements) and régionales, so there is a good possibility for the left to win a majority in the élections sénatoriales in 2011...

"Ce qui vient au monde pour ne rien troubler ne mérite ni égards ni patience." René Char