First came the blue lights, then the music worthy of a boxing match. The champion advances and the noise steadily increases around the room. The flags rise, and Marine Le Pen addresses the room. She accuses opponent in the run-off Emmanuel Macron of being “the heir of Francois Hollande” and presents herself as “the candidate of the people” who “appeals to all patriots.”
Ms Le Pen, in a chest-thumping speech to cheering supporters, declared that she embodies “the great alternative” for French voters. She portrays her duel with Mr Macron as a battle between “patriots” and “wild deregulation” — warning of job losses overseas, mass migration straining resources at home and “the free circulation of terrorists.”
“The time has come to free the French people,” she says at her election day headquarters in the northern French town of Henin-Beaumont, adding that nothing short of “the survival of France” will be at stake in the second and final round of the election.
“The great issue in this election is the rampant globalisation that is putting our civilisation at risk,” she declares, describing Mr Macron as “the money king” in a disparaging swipe at his investment banker background.
To say the words go down well is a gross understatement. Her speech ends with an ovation, a bouquet of blue roses is offered to her, and the leader of the Front National (FN), leads a rendition of the Marseillaise by the whole hall.
Ms Le Pen's supporters lap up her rhetoric. “Her speech was very clear, she made the French understand that there is a patriotic position [the FN] and an ultra-liberal and ultra-globalist position [Emmanuel Macron],” says Lionel David, a 45-year-old physician. Jean-Claude Melayers, 72, who is retired, adds: “The challenge is to choose between globalisation, finance or France identity.”
Ms Le Pen's supporters had been having fun all evening, despite the tight security that meant a long wait to get into the venue - ironically named the “François Mitterrand Centre” after the late Socialist president - where she chose to celebrate for advance into the second round of voting.
The town of Henin-Beaumont is an FN stronghold, so having portrayed herself as outside the Parisian elite, it made sense to greet her supporters here, away from the capital - and her supporters greeted her like a hero.
Earlier, the countdown is shown on the screen and the crowd screams in unison: 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. The first projections of the vote are displayed: Mr Macron ahead, followed hy Ms Le Pen Le Pen, they are the two candidates who will eventually be headed to the second round. The room shudders with joy, the crowd of supporters jumps, screams, and shakes hands. Only the vision of Emmanuel Macron on the screen brings a few whistles.
Benoît Hamon, the unfortunate Socialist candidate, is the first to speak on the night, displayed on the big screen. He calls for supporters to vote for Emmanuel Macron, an announcement welcomed by scattered boos by the FN supporters, but really, they pay little attention to candidate. They shrug their shoulders when asked about Mr Hamon. But they are ecstatic when it comes to their champion.
When centre-right candidate François Fillon appears on the screen, to express himself solemnly, he is not only welcomed by the traditional whistles of which all the opponents are greeted, but by cries “Fillon in jail” - a nod to the scandals that have engulfed his campaign. When he too calls for his supporters to vote for Mr Macron, there follows a general booing.
“Fillon is a coward, he has no conviction,” says Eve Froger, a 21-year-old law student. “He tried to assume the ideas of Marine Le Pen when it comes to the family, the fight against terrorism and now he wants to defend the one who will destroy family and the security of France,” Ms Froger adds.
“We are the France of patriots,” says Milevia Mangano, a 21-year-old business student. He believes “in the economic program of Marine Le Pen”. He adds: "We want a Europe of free nations, we want to regain our sovereignty. “
Members of Ms Le Pen's campaign team confirm to The Independent that the FN leader's speech was a launch pad for her run at the second round. “She raised the true issue at stake in the second round: globalists against patriots”, one says.
Ms Le Pen is not the only one to portray herself as an outsider. In a speech in Paris, Mr Macron - the 39-year-old who has never held elected office - says that he wants to gather “the largest possible” support before the 7 May runoff. He praises his supporters for a campaign that “changed the course of our country.”
Urging hope in Europe instead of fear - a reference to Ms Le Pen's anti-European Union campaign - Mr Macron acknowledges widespread anger at traditional parties and promised “new transformations” in French politics.
Polls currently project that Mr Macron will win the second round comfortably. But for Ms Le Pen's supporters and FN party officials - in the wake of Ms Le Pen's speech - the champagne is flowing and some are planning to dance into the night.
The battle lying ahead can wait, just for the evening.
