With polls suggesting a run-off in the second round between far-right leader Marine Le Pen and incumbent President Emanuel Macron in the April presidential election, Zemour sought to energize his voters at a large rally in Paris. “We are the most determined in France. We are the strongest on the internet. We are the most committed to political rallies. “Now that we are going up, who can stop us?” asked the cheering crowd in an elegant gathering with large screens, music and emotional testimonies. “We have done in three months what other politicians have not been able to do for 15 years. “We have 14 days to do what no one else has been able to do.” Zemour, who has been campaigning for promises of a tough approach to immigration, Islam and security, said his vote was “crucial” to saving France, as opposed to a lost vote for Le Pen. POLITICO’s Poll of Polls reports that Macron is expected to receive 28% of the vote, compared to 19% for Le Pen, 14% for far-left Jean-Luc Mélenchon and 11% for Zemmour. Macron is also expected to win the second round against Le Pen.
Not like the others
Some in attendance traveled from afar to show their support for Zemmour, the former journalist who emerged as the presidential candidate just late last year. Michel, a Normandy retiree and former Le Pen supporter, said Zemour had given her a new impetus for politics and that she had traveled to Paris to help him win the “image war” against his opponents. “He stands out compared to everyone else,” he said. “He loves France, something that others have long forgotten. “He is proud of France and wants to defend its honor.” “Zemmour comes from nowhere, he is not a politician, he fights to prevent the disappearance of France. “Everyone else promises things just to be elected.” The rally, which took place in Piazza Trocadéro in front of the Eiffel Tower, also attracted many young voters for the first time, who were attracted by what they called Zemmour’s authenticity. “He’s a real patriot and he has some good ideas to save France,” said Baptiste Vilmin, a metallurgist in Champagne. “And he is not a professional politician, his attitude is different.” Vilmin, who had come to the rally with a friend, also believed that Zemmour would defy the predictions of the polls in the last weeks of the election campaign. “I think people will wake up, it can reach them, there is an energy around it,” he said. Many in the audience shared their suspicions about polling stations, mainstream media and career politicians, saying they were trying to destroy France. Such skepticism was echoed by Zemour during his one-hour speech, as he criticized politicians and news outlets for spreading “misinformation” about his chances of being elected. “[Looking back] “People will say that πολι Politicians did everything to make us believe that the election was a done deal, but we refused to submit and took our fate into our own hands.” Macron in particular was a target of resentment. When Zemmour launched a list of terrorist attacks in recent years to demonstrate insecurity and the need for a more radical approach to crime, the voices of “Macron killer!” Were heard. “Macron killer!” to the audience. With his particular populism, Zemmour hopes to attract frustrated voters from both the conservative Les Républicains and the far-right National Rally. Trocadéro Square is a symbolic place for conservatives, an area where former Conservative candidates have rallied in the past. But while Zemmour’s allies still hope the abstention could increase their champions’ chances, many are already plotting defeat. “We are not talking about winning 10 percent of the vote now, we are talking about 2-3 points here, 2 points there,” said an ally who had left the National Rally to attend Zemmour. “If Zemour loses the election, it’s our job [for gathering the conservatives and the far-right] “It’s not over, it will just take longer,” said the ally. Meanwhile, a tornado tour of the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe has proved more complicated than expected for Zemmour’s rival, Le Pen. On Saturday, the candidate for the National Rally received leftist protesters during an interview at her hotel.
