Xavier Iacovelli has been elected as the leader of a political group in the French Senate known as the Rally of Democrats, Progressives, and Independents (RDPI). This group, which includes members who identify as marconists—individuals who support a specific political ideology—currently has about 19 members. Iacovelli succeeds François Patriat, who passed away in August and had previously decided not to run in the recent senatorial elections. Iacovelli won the leadership position after a vote that included a challenge from Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, a former minister, and support from Thani Mohamed Soilihi, a senator from Mayotte. Speaking to Public Sénat after his election, Iacovelli said that Lemoyne's candidacy was significant due to his background as a former minister and that the group spent nearly two hours discussing the issues with their colleagues. While the final vote count was not disclosed, Iacovelli emphasized his commitment to serving the group and its members. The RDPI group is expected to maintain its current number of senators, as new members have until the following Monday to join a political group. One of the key issues for the RDPI group is "territorial differentiation," which refers to policies that consider the unique needs and circumstances of different regions, especially overseas territories. Iacovelli has proposed that the group consider renaming itself to reflect this focus on overseas areas. The decision on whether to rename the group is expected to be made in the coming days. The RDPI group, which was previously registered as a "minority group" in the Senate, will meet later in the day to decide whether to align itself with the majority or the opposition in the Senate. This decision could influence whether the group supports a candidate for the presidency of the Senate. Meanwhile, the Senate is undergoing a renewal of its leadership and institutions, following the recent elections in which 178 of the 348 seats were up for renewal. New members will hold their first public session next week to begin the process of electing the president of the Senate.