At Le Bourget, Mélenchon launches his manifesto and its 1,069 proposals, saying he is opening the way to great political change

Jean-Luc Mélenchon wants to show his strength. The La France insoumise candidate is holding a major rally on Saturday at the Parc des expositions in Le Bourget (Seine-Saint-Denis), the day after his manifesto hit bookshops: a new version of L'Avenir en commun (A Shared Future) containing 1,069 proposals.

According to the AFP report carried by Sud Radio, the hall was full when the rally began, at around 3.30pm. The organisers claim more than 20,000 people, according to France 24. On stage, all the LFI MPs were seated around the candidate, franceinfo reports.

What he announced

In a speech lasting more than an hour, he set out some thirty measures, according to franceinfo: purchasing power, ecology, health with a strengthened social security system, a Sixth Republic, non-alignment and peace. New this time: his vision of artificial intelligence, with greater sovereignty but without rejecting it.

According to franceinfo, Jean-Luc Mélenchon said prices should be frozen immediately, the minimum wage (SMIC) raised, wages indexed to inflation and access to vital resources restored.

He promised not to water down his wine, saying that what is promised in the manifesto will be done. Saying he was certain he could beat Marine Le Pen, he told the crowd that whatever happened, they would fight to the last second and in the end they would win. France 24 picked out another line, in which he said the citadels of this rotten system must be dismantled.

Speaking at Le Bourget, according to franceinfo, Jean-Luc Mélenchon said his movement was opening the way to great political change.

He also declared that they were not a crowd but a mobilisation. According to franceinfo, he said that his government, if elected, would break ideological monopolies, citing that of Bolloré.

A minute's silence

The candidate asked for a minute's silence in memory of Pengo Bossio Wangi, killed in the racist attack in Trappes.

A carefully chosen venue and poster

Le Bourget hosted François Hollande's rally in January 2012 and François Mitterrand's last first-round rally in 1988, AFP recalls. The new poster uses the slogan "Liberté, égalité, solidarité". For campaign director Manuel Bompard, the aim is to show the strength and momentum of the campaign.

The response

Marine Le Pen denounced a plan to dismantle France, targeting birthright citizenship, the dismantling of the BAC anti-crime police units, degrowth and the gradual closure of nuclear power stations. Édouard Philippe criticised a communitarian vision and a state-run economy. LFI retorted that the RN is almost Édouard Philippe-lite.

According to polls cited by AFP, Jean-Luc Mélenchon would be in a position to qualify for the second round, but would be heavily beaten by Marine Le Pen. Next step: a speech on peace on 11 November in La Souterraine.