From our special correspondent in Sainte-Maxime (Var),
What could be better than a market, in this case that of Sainte-Maxime, in the Var for spontaneous exchanges with voters, especially for a candidate for deputy, in this case Eric Zemmour, who has no anchor local ? For his first legislative campaign media outing as a candidate in this fourth constituency of the Var, Eric Zemmour offered himself a walkabout to the contacts of his voters, between two trays of strawberries.
The image that emerges is rather flattering: the former presidential candidate for Reconquest! connects the selfies, the encouragements and the marks of admiration of the “onlookers”. “Me, in this campaign, I not only want people to see that Eric Zemmour is an exceptional guy, but that he is also smiling and close to people”, enthuses Marc-Etienne Lansade, mayor of Cogoline and probable substitute for Eric Zemmour for this election.
“We need to fill as many people as possible from home”
Between two cabbages and three tomatoes, however, you have to listen carefully to quickly realize that the so-called spontaneous wandering of the candidate is in reality very checkered, and the onlookers, not really there by chance. “Be careful, he is coming, launches a Reconquest activist, as Eric Zemmour approaches the covered market of Sainte-Maxime. We need to fill as many people from home as possible inside! »
“Left and right, fan club! “, launches several times Marc-Etienne Lansade for Eric Zemmour, who follows to the letter the instructions of his teams on the traders and other “customers” of the market to whom to address. Seller of products made from CBD, Philippe waits wisely for his turn behind his stand, under the eye of the cameras “Two people came by earlier this morning to ask me what I thought of the fact that Eric Zemmour is stopping talk to me, confirms the shopkeeper. Me, I said OK. It does not bother me. »
“I needed a political presence”
“Mr. Zemmour, can we take a selfie? », Launches a man a little further. “His son works at the town hall of Cogolin”, breathes Marc-Etienne Lansade. “I am a supporter of Roquebrune-sur-Argens, and I came to see him because I saw on Amstagram (sic) that he was there”, exclaims Dominique. A popularity recorded on film, to make people forget that Eric Zemmour has parachuted into a rather favorable constituency with which he has no connection? In the first round of the presidential election, Eric Zemmour convinced 17.38% of voters in Sainte-Maxime, a score well above the national average. “I want him to do like me, continues Marc-Etienne Lansade. For forty years I have been vacationing here. And then one day, I put down my suitcases. I moved in six months before the municipal elections. I did not know Cogolin. And I was elected mayor. »
“Settling in the Var? Why not, launches Eric Zemmour, who, during this campaign, lives with the mayor of Cogolin. We’ll see. I needed a political establishment with people who have convictions. I love the Var and I love the people of Var. “” Notoriety does not necessarily make the election, plague Philippe Lottiaux, RN candidate invested in the face of Eric Zemmour, Me, I was a little surprised, for someone who speaks daily of rootedness, to see him arrive from Paris in the Var. After all, everyone does what they want. And then you know, there are a lot of people who want to work on their vacation spots…”
An annoyance that is easily explained when you take a look at the figures. In this constituency currently held by LREM, on a historically right-wing land, Marine Le Pen came out on top for the first time in the second round of the presidential election, with more than 30% of the votes, for example in Sainte- Maxim.