Le sense of celebration, but first of all that of measure as well as appearances. And “get serious”, despite more than 34% of the votes and the untenable desire to finally send this sacrosanct glass ceiling over which FN and then RN have always stumbled. This, in the absence of a clearly refined strategy, was the instruction discreetly passed yesterday evening to all levels of the National Rally. Starting from the highest perch, under the chandeliers of a privatized Wagram pavilion to stage the short statement – 5 minutes flat – by Jordan Bardella. “Matignon” style, those around him had insisted. “I intend to be a Prime Minister of cohabitation, respectful of the Constitution and the function of the President of the Republic, but uncompromising on the policy that we will implement in the service of France. »
Bardella behind closed doors
In fact, a major celebration initially announced, a form of closed session finally reserved for three hundred journalists and even more cameras, but without executives or the slightest activist as the party leadership decided on Thursday evening. Alone on the gray background of a platform having for the occasion erased all the distinctive signs of the far-right party, a speech with a reversed front in which the president of the RN – invoking “national unity” – thus presented himself as “the only republican and patriotic bulwark that can help France win”. And Bardella left the presidential majority on the ground, now relentlessly shelling “Mélenchon and his friends, essential danger”.
“I offer the activists a drink, but at 9 p.m. everyone goes back to work. »
Where elsewhere it was just as urgent to wait before celebrating too ostentatiously in front of the microphones. With the Rotonde syndrome very much present in the minds of the party’s bigwigs, when on the evening of the first round of the 2017 presidential election candidate Macron had already gone to triumph under the gilt of the famous brasserie in the 15th arrondissement of Paris. In a very favorable ballot among the only constituency of Lot-et-Garonne missing until then by the RN, Sébastien Delbosq will have learned his lesson at his level. “I offer a drink to about fifteen activists in a bar in Agen to celebrate the result, but with the watchword to get back to work immediately.” Fine for a pressure, or two, but out of the question of really letting it go on the eve of a crucial second round. “At 9 p.m., everyone will be at work to establish the battle plan.”
JULIEN DE ROSA/AFP
Jordan Bardella last night in front of an audience… of journalists. No candidate or activist had been invited to his speech.
Although comfortably re-elected in Gironde, Edwige Diaz then displayed the same sobriety to better run from TV sets to live radio broadcasts. “Above all, no triumphalism, just a little drink at my office between a dozen interviews,” whispered the one who is already announced as a ministerial candidate. “Then, the idea is that the deputies elected in the first round go into the field to lend a hand to colleagues, while Jordan and Marine will probably take charge of arbitrating the negotiations.” And to quickly dive into the murky and perilous waters of triangular races that are announced – before withdrawals – at a record level. At the late hour of the buffet, projections still to be taken with a pinch of salt as they remain random for the time being, apart from a few dozen – but crucial – seats.
“We need the majority”
“A new campaign is starting, and we need an absolute majority,” Marine Le Pen had warned a little earlier, stealing the show from her heir apparent in her stronghold of Hénin-Beaumont (Pas-de-Calais). A meeting on familiar ground, and a conventional speech, for the party leader who was also easily re-elected. No doubt relieved to also verify that, for once, the high turnout did not cut into the party’s score, which was at least a dozen million votes. “A vote without ambiguity, where the French demonstrated their desire to turn the page and practically wiped out the Macronist bloc,” repeated the leader of the RN deputies in the Assembly.
And others, here as elsewhere, pray behind the scenes so that the little celebration is not spoiled late. “We shouldn’t let people drop a very racist bomb in public with one drink too many,” trembled a Gironde activist still burned by the few road trips that punctuated the last days of the campaign. “Don’t think that they need instructions to behave well,” said Edwige Diaz. “Remember what we promised our 88 deputies two years ago… The worst, when it didn’t happen. For the rest, the holidays will wait. Because between that and the Matignon keys, there is no photo. »
