Jean-Luc Melenchon announces 2017 France presidency bid

Jean-Luc Melenchon announced his decision on French TV

The French left-wing politician Jean-Luc Melenchon has announced he will stand for president in spring 2017.

Mr Melenchon, of the Left party (PG - Parti de Gauche), said the means of production, trade and consumption must be changed, and cited climate change as one of his concerns.

He said: "This is a tremendous opportunity to loose the bonds that paralyse us today."

Mr Melenchon made an unsuccessful bid for the French presidency in 2012.

He received 11% of the votes, putting him in fourth place.

He is a former senator and currently serves as an MEP.

2012 profile: Melenchon harks back to the Revolution

The current president, the Socialist Party's Francoise Hollande, has not yet confirmed whether he will seek a second term.

It is expected that Marine Le Pen of the National Front will run.