First came the blue lights, then the music worthy of a world championship boxing match. The contender advanced and the noise steadily increased around the auditorium. The flags were raised, and Marine Le Pen addressed the room. She accused her opponent in the run-off, Emmanuel Macron, of being “the heir of Francois Hollande” while presenting 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 embodied “the great alternative” for French voters. She portrayed 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 said 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 declared, describing Mr Macron as “the money king” in a disparaging swipe at his investment banker background.

To say the words went down well is a gross understatement. Her speech ended with an ovation, a bouquet of blue roses was offered to her, and the leader of the Front National (FN), lead a rendition of the Marseillaise by the whole hall.

Supporters of Marine Le Pen celebrate her victory (Alamy)

Ms Le Pen's supporters lapped 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 her advance into the second round of voting.

French Presidential Election Show all 20 1 /20 French Presidential Election French Presidential Election Voters line up to cast their ballots REUTERS French Presidential Election French expats queue along the street outside the Lycee Francais Charles de Gaulle to cast their vote in a polling station inside the school, in the first round of the 2017 French presidential election, in London, Britain April 23, 2017. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor - RTS13JM5 REUTERS French Presidential Election People line up to vote in the first round of 2017 French presidential election at a polling station in Vaulx-en-Velin near Lyon, France, April 23, 2017. REUTERS/Emmanuel Foudrot - RTS13HSP REUTERS French Presidential Election Police patrol polling stations in France REUTERS French Presidential Election Francois Fillon (L), member of the Republicans political party and 2017 French presidential election candidate of the French centre-right, casts his vote in the first round of 2017 French presidential election in Paris, France, April 23, 2017. REUTERS/Christophe Archambault/Pool - RTS13IH0 REUTERS French Presidential Election Benoit Hamon (C), French Socialist party 2017 presidential candidate, is surrounded by photographers as he leaves a polling station after voting in the first round of 2017 French presidential election in Trappes, near Paris, France, April 23, 2017. REUTERS/Vincent Kessler - RTS13I0Y REUTERS French Presidential Election French President Francois Hollande collects voting slips before casting his ballot in the first round of the 2017 French presidential election at a polling station in Tulle, France, on April 23, 2017. REUTERS/Georges Gobet/Pool - RTS13ITO REUTERS French Presidential Election A policeman walks by election posters near a polling station during the first round of 2017 French presidential election in Paris, France, April 23, 2017. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann - RTS13I3A REUTERS French Presidential Election Emmanuel Macron and wife Brigitte Trogneux REUTERS French Presidential Election Emmanuel Macron casts his ballot REUTERS French Presidential Election Emmanuel Macron, head of the political movement En Marche !, or Onwards !, and candidate for the 2017 French presidential election, waves hand during in the first round of 2017 French presidential election at a polling station in Le Touquet, northern France, April 23, 2017. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier - RTS13ICH SAA/ French Presidential Election Jean-Luc Melenchon, candidate of the French far-left Parti de Gauche and candidate for the French 2017 presidential election, leaves a polling booth in the first round of 2017 French presidential election at a polling station in Paris, France, April 23, 2017. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe - RTS13IKB REUTERS French Presidential Election Front National leader Marine Le Pen casts her ballot Marine Le Pen (L), French National Front (FN) political party leader and candidate for French 2017 presidential election, casts her ballot in the first round of 2017 French presidential election at a polling station in Henin-Beaumont, northern France, April 23, 2017. At R, Mayor of Henin-Beaumont Steeve Briois. REUTERS/Charles Platiau - RTS13IEI REUTERS French Presidential Election Early ballots are read as results continue to come in Reuters French Presidential Election Macron supporters react as results come in early in the evening AP French Presidential Election Supporters of Front National leader Marine Le Pen cheer as early results come in Reuters French Presidential Election Alamy Live News. J21KYW Paris, France. 23rd April 2017. Marcon supporters wave French and EU flags after the announcement that he is the leader in the exit polls after the polling stations have been closed. Supporters of Emmanuel Macron, the Presidential candidate from the social liberal political party En Marche! celebrate the exit polls, that see him in first place, ahead of Marine Le Pen from the Front National in the first round of the French Presidential election. Credit: Michael Debets/Alamy Live News This is an Alamy Live News image and may not be part of your current Alamy deal . If you are unsure, please contact our sales team to check. Alamy French Presidential Election Front National leader Marine Le Pen takes to the stage to address her supporters as fans cheer Reuters French Presidential Election Emmanuel Macron greets supporters on Sunday night AP French Presidential Election Emmanuel Macron and wife Brigitte Trogneux celebrate the incoming results EPA

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.

The countdown was shown on the screen and the crowd screamed in unison: 5, 4, 3, 2 ...1. The first projections of the vote were displayed: Mr Macron ahead, followed by Ms Le Pen. The room shuddered with joy, the crowd of supporters jumped and screamed and shook hands. Only the vision of Emmanuel Macron on the screen brought a few whistles.

Benoît Hamon, the unfortunate Socialist candidate, was the first to speak on the night, displayed on the big screen. He called for supporters to vote for Emmanuel Macron, an announcement welcomed by scattered boos by the FN supporters, although they paid little attention to him. They shrugged their shoulders when asked about Mr Hamon. But they were ecstatic when it came to their champion.

When centre-right candidate François Fillon appeared on the screen, to express himself solemnly, he was not only welcomed by the traditional whistles which greet all the opponents, but by cries “Fillon in jail” – a nod to the scandals that have engulfed his campaign. When he too called for his supporters to vote for Mr Macron, there followed a general booing.

“Fillon is a coward, he has no conviction,” said 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 confirmed 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 said.

Ms Le Pen was 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 – said he wanted to gather “the largest possible” support before the 7 May run-off. He praised 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 acknowledged widespread anger at traditional parties and promised “new transformations” in French politics.