Three hours before the meeting, Lucas Sayler, 18 years old and a khaki suit and tie, stands in front of the Arena of Metz, at the corner of avenues Louis Le Débonnaire (son of Charlemagne) and François Mitterrand.

This "proud patriot very attached to France" discovered Eric Zemmour in his old broadcasts on CNews.

He finds that he "gives off a real strength" and "dares to say out loud what everyone is thinking quietly".

Student in the first year of history with chastised phrasing, he is "wary of the polls" which skate between 11 and 13% of the voting intentions.

Certainly, he recognizes that young people are "reluctant" to the speech of the far-right candidate - 6% of 18-24 year olds are ready to vote for him according to a recent Ifop survey.

But it is because of the "doxa" of National Education, a medium "quite politically oriented", he believes.

His friend Hugo Dieudonné, in DUT of chemistry, is worried about "insecurity".

In the suburbs of Metz, "in Borny and Woippy, it's carnage. Justice is no longer doing its job enough," he says.

He thinks his father will vote like him, but not his mother, who "follows the opinion of the majority and the media".

"Our Youthful Years"

Coming from Remiremont (Vosges), Valentin Jean-Paul, retired, turned the page on 20 years of activism at LR, after his vote for Eric Ciotti in the right-wing primary.

"Valérie Pécresse is nothing like a president", believes this former sales representative, while Eric Zemmour "is a very great genius".

"He is the only one to restore security and the economy in France and to prevent Islam from returning with great strides. We do not need two civilizations", he considers, criticizing "architectural" polls. false".

Colette and François Didier, former craftsmen, traveled 160 km from Vagney (Vosges) for their champion.

They had voted Emmanuel Macron five years ago, "but he gives nothing for retirees".

Supporters of the Reconquest candidate!

President Eric Zemmour during a meeting in Metz, March 18, 2022 Jean-Christophe VERHAEGEN AFP

With the candidate Reconquête!, "we find what was true before, our youthful years", assure these 67-year-old retirees, in parkas and walking shoes.

They too cite insecurity and worry about immigration: "It's not like with the Italians at the time. They integrated".

Former soldier, Olivier Dardaine, 54, thinks that Eric Zemmour will fight against the "trajectory of the great replacement" of European populations by immigrants from outside Europe.

A conspiracy theory?

"Not at all. I have friends who live in red-light districts, and when you look there are a lot of people from North Africa. It's a real problem."

"They want to shut him up"

Murielle Petry, a 38-year-old housewife, loves the "culture" of Eric Zemmour.

She had voted Le Pen five years ago but finds that she is "softening up": "she no longer has a place on the right, she is on the left".

She came from Dieuze (Moselle) with her companion.

He thinks that we must welcome Ukrainian refugees because "the situation is tough".

She is more reserved, because "when you accept someone in your country, you need a release date".

Both recognize a slightly more difficult moment in the campaign of Eric Zemmour, accused of being pro-Putin.

"The media spoil him too much, they want to silence him because he becomes embarrassing for certain candidates", considers Murielle.

The candidate Reconquest!

President Eric Zemmour at a meeting in Metz, March 18, 2022 Jean-Christophe VERHAEGEN AFP

Eric Zemmour tried to remobilize his troops: "I have no doubts, I am more lucid, more solid, more true. (...). We are advancing against all odds".

© 2022 AFP