"Do not believe, please, never, those who serine you (by) this little music (...) that it would be lost, that Emmanuel Macron will be re-elected", implored the candidate of the National Rally to 900 activists, gathered in a gymnasium in Bouchain (North), who chanted "Marine president".

"It's borderline (...) if we should not cancel the election and consider that this is only an administrative act. + You understand it's war, so Emmanuel Macron by definition should be immediately and automatically re-elected +", quipped the candidate, given in the second round but currently in the first round 12 points behind Emmanuel Macron.

In full invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the candidate president exceeded 30% of voting intentions.

For Marine Le Pen, her adversary "simply seeks to demobilize you, to demoralize you" and "to disconnect the people of France".

His party had been strongly affected by the abstention from the June 2021 regionals.

She urged her supporters to "not watch" the election but to "do it", "not to abstain, out of laziness or resignation, out of legitimate irritation".

"We will go all the way," said an activist in the room.

"Stand up!"

she repeated to applause.

She considered that "the Ukrainian crisis had brought to light the insufficiencies of Emmanuel Macron" who made "the choice of European and Atlanticist alignment and, by this posture without diplomatic interest, excluded France from a role of mediator who could have been useful and perhaps decisive".

The far-right candidate defended a "patriotic, national and popular" project, believing that "the social emergency was purchasing power", while the sanctions against Russia generated price increases.

"With me, it will immediately be more money in your wallets," she assured, promising to return 150 to 200 euros per month to each household.

© 2022 AFP