The upcoming senatorial elections have brought unexpected shifts in political alliances, as senators from Nouvelle énergie, the party supporting presidential candidate David Lisnard, are trying to form a new group with dissidents from Les Indépendants, led by Claude Malhuret, who is close to former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe. While this effort has not yet succeeded, it has created tensions at the Palais du Luxembourg, the seat of the French Senate, where the week of the "mercato"—a term borrowed from sports to describe a period of movement and negotiation—has begun. A centrist senator described the atmosphere as tense and unusual, with political maneuvering and rumors circulating in the corridors. Senators have until Monday at 4 pm to decide which group they will join, turning the week into a period of political "speed dating" for new arrivals. Some newly elected senators are reportedly prioritizing potential benefits over political conviction, according to a senator from the LR (Les Républicains) party. This senator expressed surprise at the attitude of newly elected colleagues, noting that some are even threatening to move to the right or left for better positions or advantages. On the left, the placement of two senators from the Place Publique movement—Bernard Jomier and Grégory Blanc—is being closely watched, as they may join the socialist group, the ecologist group, or RDSE (Rassemblement Démocrate et Social Européen). Their decision could influence the distribution of key positions, especially within the Senate's board. François Rebsamen, who has returned to the Senate, is aiming to join the socialist group, but some socialists want to first debate his inclusion, given his previous role as a minister under President Emmanuel Macron. Meanwhile, the first senator from the LFI (La France Insoumise) party, Gabriel Amard, has not been accepted by the ecologists, while a senator from the majority is threatening to leave if she does not get a commission position. The creation of new political groups is a topic of discussion, with rumors of a pro-Glucksmann group on the left, though it is not taken seriously. On the right, there is an attempt to form a group that would unite senators from Nouvelle énergie with other right-wing elected officials. This issue has been discussed in the conference room on the sidelines of the re-election of Gérard Larcher, the president of the Senate, on the Plateau de l'Élysée. David Lisnard, leader of Nouvelle énergie, confirmed that some senators are considering forming a group, but he denied being behind the effort. He emphasized that he does not encourage such actions and wants to avoid chaos. However, he mentioned that he may create a group of Nouvelle énergie parliamentarians to promote their ideas and prepare for the presidential election. He also stated that he gets along well with Mathieu Darnaud, the president of the LR group, and supports a senatorial majority for Gérard Larcher.