Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (France)
# Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (France)

The Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (French: chef de l'opposition au Sénat) is the leader of the largest opposition group in the Senate of France. The status has no official recognition in the French Constitution. What is more, the ideological differences between groups in the Senate is smaller than as usual, as the powers of the Senate allow it, at best, to lengthen the time for a bill.

Following the 2011 Senate election and the victory of the Socialists, Jean-Claude Gaudin became the first right-wing Senate Opposition Leader under the Fifth Republic. Eight people have held the position since its establishment in 1959. The current officeholder is Patrick Kanner.

## List of Opposition Leaders under the Fifth Republic

Political parties:  Socialist Party  Union for a Popular Movement

| Leader | Took office | Left office | Political group | Notes |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| Antoine Courrière | 28 April 1959 | 20 September 1974 | SOC | Senator for Aude. Died in office. |
| Marcel Champeix | 20 September 1974 | 1 October 1980 | SOC | Senator for Corrèze. Not reelected to the Senate. |
| André Méric | 1 October 1980 | 22 June 1988 | SOC | Senator for Haute-Garonne. Resigned to join the Rocard government. |
| Claude Estier | 22 June 1988 | 1 October 2004 | SOC | Senator for Paris. Did not seek reelection to the Senate. |
| Jean-Pierre Bel | 1 October 2004 | 1 October 2011 | SOC | Senator for Ariège. Subsequently became President of the Senate. |
| Jean-Claude Gaudin | 1 October 2011 | 1 October 2014 | UMP | Senator for Bouches-du-Rhône. |
| Didier Guillaume | 1 October 2014 | 23 January 2018 | SOC | Senator for Drôme. |
| Patrick Kanner | 23 January 2018 | Incumbent | SOC | Senator for Nord. |
