Melenchon, running third in French election race, promises to tame capitalism

Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of the far-left opposition party La France Insoumise (France Unbowed - LFI), and L'Union populaire (popular union) candidate in the 2022 French presidential election, delivers a speech during a march for the 6th Republic, at Place de la Republique in Paris, France, March 20, 2022. REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier

PARIS (Reuters) - French far-left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon, who may yet challenge for a place in the April election's crucial runoff, on Sunday promised to lower the age of retirement, hike the minimum wage and freeze food and fuel prices.

Melenchon, who denounces the free-market economy and instead advocates state intervention in the economy to spread wealth and guarantee what he calls a dignified life for all workers, told a campaign rally in Paris he would tax the wealthy hard.