No fewer than 500 guests were invited to the Pavillon Chesnaie du Roy to celebrate what was supposed to be the victory of the far-right party in the second round. The mood was ultimately one of defeat, after results that saw the RN relegated to third place.
The three activists had more white wine before taking up positions in front of the giant screens. It is 7:55 p.m. at the National Rally (RN) campaign headquarters, at the Pavillon Chesnaie du Roy, in the Bois de Vincennes, and Laure, Camille and Anne are serene. “Mega-confident”even. “I say 240 seats,” bet the third, fuchsia evening dress on the back. At 7:59 p.m., the girlfriends took a deep breath. “It’s gonna be okay, girls. It’s gonna be okay.” And then at 8 p.m., bang. Their faces suddenly close up. “Whore…” The TVs are showing the results of the second round of the legislative elections, Sunday July 7, and The far-right party and its allies only obtainbetween 138 and 145 deputies, according to our Ipsos-Talan estimate for France Télévisions, Radio France, France 24, RFI and LCP.
The atmosphere has lost a few degrees in the Pavillon Chesnaie du Roy. Among the 500 guests, some are even wondering if the evening will continue until the end. Those who were already there on the evening of the European elections, a month ago, do not recognize the place. French flag in hand, Kalissa is in tears. “These are tears of shock, of sadness”mumbles the 22-year-old activist, before collapsing again. What’s left of her makeup is now running down the bottom of her cheeks. “You’re not doing well.”an acquaintance says to him as he passes by. “Meh. I didn’t expect that.Kalissa answers. This afternoon, again, I I said to myself: ‘Come on, at least a majority’.”
How far away, indeed, does the time seem when the possibility of an absolute majority in the National Assembly for the RN loomed over the country. Camille also has “balls” : the party led by Jordan Bardella therefore came third in the legislative elections, behind the New Popular Front and the presidential coalition Ensemble. “We went from joy to disillusionment in ten seconds”sums up the one who works in consulting in Paris, touching the cross she wears around her neck before listing the culprits: “The far left, the dam and Macron.” Good and “Maybe some of our candidates didn’t measure up” Also. “Every day there were pots and pans. Every day I was sent a new video, a new controversy. It’s not possible,” creaks la 24 year old blonde activist who joined the party last January after tearing up his Republican card.
“It was casting errors that worked against us. We need to clarify what went wrong.”
Camille, National Rally activistto franceinfo
Upon their arrival at the HQ, shortly before 7 p.m., MP Edwige Diaz and MEP Fabrice Leggeri remained silent. Was this a sign? In a corridor, Philippe Olivier provides after-sales service: “France is heading into a total quagmire. We are missing quite a few constituencies by one or two points, insists the RN European deputy. The story is not over, the future belongs to us.”
This is exactly what Jordan Bardella is about to declare as he climbs to the podium, his face closed. The man who dreamed of being Prime Minister at 28 promises that “It all starts tonight”that the National Rally is the “only alternative to the single party” and to “electoral arrangements orchestrated from the Elysée”. When the young leader speaks “the alliance of dishonor”someone shouts “the bastards”. “The French have fallen into the trap of the Republican front again, what a joke! Anthony gestures. They behaved like sheep. They had a historic choice and they did whatever they wanted.”
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After his speech, Jordan Bardella then goes back to lock himself in a room upstairs, where Marine Le Pen is waiting for him. Downstairs, his ex-partner Louis Aliot, mayor of Perpignan, is sitting on a yellow sofa: “I might stay in Paris more often. I have to help structure the party.”he says.
“We will always have to deal with Republican fronts, but there are ways to get around it. I have some ideas in any case.”
Louis Aliot, Mayor of Perpignanto franceinfo
Outside, the security service is on edge. There is no question of the cameras filming the departure of the party officials. To complicate the reporters’ work, umbrellas are opened and trash cans are pushed. Suddenly, a car slows down. A “We woneeee.” “We agree that they taunt us?” asks one of the security guards.
A man in a black suit strolls through the ranks of the chic complex to address a group of disillusioned activists, a glass of champagne in hand. “I don’t know whether to be happy or not,” plague Nicolas, thirty years old. “Wait, wait ! It should also be noted that we have never had so many RN deputies in the Assembly !”
In fact, the party has significantly improved its score compared to 2022, when it sent 89 deputies to the chamber, and should go from a group of 138 to 145 elected representatives, according to our Ipsos-Talan estimate. There were still only 7 in 2017. On the sidelines, a military mananonymous due to the “duty of reserve”, would like the crowd to repeat after him: “B“Well done Jordan!” “Bravo and thank you!” his wife insists.
Melanie applauds. “Write that Jordan is always the man for the job”this activist in a black tank top tells us. “We weren’t offensive enough. We need to assert ourselves more, we need to be more proud of our ideas. If not this time, it will be another time. 2027 is the day after tomorrow. Victory is at the end of the tunnel.” She turns to her group who have come specially from Val-d’Oise and raises her fist: “Hold on, French, we’re coming!”