French left wing presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon and tens of thousands of his supporters staged a rally in Paris on Saturday, hoping to convince more voters to get behind the socialist republican and anti-EU candidate in the upcoming presidential election. 

The 65-year-old former member of the Socialist party calls for deep reforms in the constitution and promises to introduce new institutions in the country if elected. He also wants to shorten France's 35-hour workweek, leave NATO, block free-trade deals and stop using nuclear energy. A recent poll has placed him in fifth place among the 11 candidates, with just over 10 percent. 

Melenchon is widely known as a firebrand figure in French politics. He surprised many when he came fourth in the 2012 presidential election. Since then, he has incorporated various environmental themes into his campaign. He also uses YouTube to reach out to the younger generation.