In Forbach (Moselle),
Rue Bauer is long in Forbach. A stone’s throw from the huge Soviet-style town hall and a monument dedicated to the region’s mining past, the village hall is not easy to find. Unless you follow a few supporters of Florian Philippot, including one recognizable with his orange stickers on the cap.
This Tuesday evening, Nicolas Dupont-Aignan is almost the guest of the president of the Patriots, a regular in the Moselle city. The latter had presented himself there unsuccessfully for the municipal elections in 2014 and regularly claims to be there “at home”. What guarantee a full house to his new ally?
At 6 p.m., half an hour before the official start of the meeting, it is not obvious. About thirty people took place on the chairs arranged in a circle around a desk. Campaign posters to the glory of the president of Debout La France have been plastered all over the walls and activists are busy. Oops, a big mistake has just been noticed: the European flag installed in a corner of the room has been left. Quickly, he was withdrawn to avoid the odds for the openly sovereignist candidate.
Before the start of hostilities, the departmental secretary of NDA’s party took the opportunity to speak. “Take all the leaflets and posters you want. If you live in a village of 600 inhabitants, divide by 2.5 to have the right number of mailboxes”, launches Hervé Hocquet, preventing any “wild posting”. “But if someone stuck before you, you can cover up. Just take a before photo, it’s the first one who is punished! »
Seated in the third and last row, Jeanne is already listening religiously. “I left work earlier and drove three hours from the Haut-Rhin to come, explains the fifty-year-old, who even booked a hotel night there. No question of missing a crumb of what will say Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, “the only one to defend freedom”. “Like Florian Philippot, I have been since these vaccination pass stories. When I saw that the government was firing non-vaccinated nursing staff, it clicked. I don’t want a world with a pass, ”she says, admitting that she is not vaccinated. “And can you step back a bit please?” »
A few meters away, Jean-Pierre gives the same argument when he is asked the reason for his arrival. “I am for everyone’s free choice”, he advocates, also seduced by what he sees as freedom of tone in the president of Debout la France. “It is a voice that rises against political correctness. Today, there aren’t many people who have the courage to say what people don’t like to hear. »
A man disguised as a giant phallus… pushed out
Precisely, where is the guest-star of the evening? Still not there, despite 6:30 p.m. well typed. “He arrived but was held back by a journalist,” says a manager. The Hauts-de-France regional councilor seen in the film The tie, Eric Richermoz, tries to raise the mood. Then run in the direction of a back door. A few seconds later, a man is escorted out. “Follow me sir, please.” His wrong? To have come disguised as a giant phallus. With a poster hanging around his neck: “If Macron is re-elected, you will take me where I think in my entirety. He will not see the meeting.
“All together, all together”, it finally begins! The candidate for the next presidential election enters the scene, accompanied by his new ally. A few French flags are waved and the two go to greet a few supporters here and there. ” Thanks for coming “. “Ah, you are there Philippe! “. They then sit on two chairs in the middle of the circle, not on the stage. Right at the heart of this people whose “power” they love to praise so much.
Accustomed to the place, Florian Philippot takes the microphone first. “It’s nice to come back here”, he says, in this “city of work”. And the former right arm of Marine Le Pen to develop the reasons they pushed him to join NDA. “The only sincere candidate”. The only one, too, “to have paraded in the cold against the past” and who defends “the independence of France. The attacks on the President of the Republic are already numerous. “I can tell you that Macron’s ears will whistle until the first round,” he proclaims, to the ovations of a conquered audience of around 200 people.
After barely a quarter of an hour, it’s Nicolas Dupont-Aignan’s turn to speak. “I am very touched by this welcome”, begins the former mayor of Yerres (Essonne), for his first in the area. “I was already in the department but never so high! Lorraine is the Cross, it is Gaullism”, he continues in one of his many references to General de Gaulle.
“8% increase in all wages”
During his hour of speech – “I will conclude, don’t worry” – he will address his cherished themes. “Liberty”, “independence from France” and “power to the people”. With some shocking proposals. Like “the 8% increase in all wages thanks to a reduction in employer contributions. Or the creation of a “mid-term recall referendum where, if I’m too bad, they can get rid of me”. Or the appointment of Professor Raoult “Minister of Health”. “I have full confidence in this man, he has taken care of Africa”, he justifies.
On the last epidemic precisely, NDA promises to “reinstate and compensate all caregivers” who did not want to be vaccinated. According to him, they would have done well. Because “the side effects of the vaccine, they now pass them off as the effects of the Covid”, he asserts, taking himself in particular to the Pfizer laboratory. “And Ukraine is like the Covid, don’t listen to everything you are told,” adds the candidate. “We have a heart but also a brain […] We can propose a status of neutrality for this country. »
Twice, the one who rallied to Marine Le Pen in the 2nd round in 2017, takes over his audience. Especially this man who came with a yellow vest, quite talkative. “Hush, hush. I’m kidding “. It’s 20 hours and the time to conclude, after a final appeal not to abstain on April 10. “Long live France, long live the Republic!” “. Then resounds a Marseillaise sung a cappella. Eric Richermoz runs again, this time looking for a French flag that will be good to show off in rhythm. “And don’t forget, Nicolas’ book is on sale at the exit. »
Before leaving, selfies are possible with the two politicians. Jeanne is entitled to it and leaves with leaflets and posters under her arm. “I even have the number of a manager, I don’t know who,” she confides, beaming. ” I loved ! He is close to the people, not like the current president. It is heartwarming. »