Mélenchon squares up to Brussels in election manifesto

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the far-left leader, has unveiled a presidential manifesto whose central economic and fiscal proposals would put France on a collision course with Brussels, according to his campaign platform. The plan is expected to hinge on large-scale public spending and a break with EU budget and state-aid rules, setting up a direct confrontation with European institutions. The manifesto's cost and scope will be closely watched as a marker of how far French politics has shifted toward spending-led policies ahead of the vote. What to watch next is whether Mélenchon can convert the platform into a unified left candidacy and how Brussels responds to any breach of deficit limits.