France's fiery left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon continues to shake up the presidential race.

A poll released Tuesday shows Melenchon would win 14% of a first round vote, putting him just a step behind rival Marine Le Pen.

(SOUNDBITE) (French) BVA INSTITUTE POLLSTER, CELINE BRACQ, SAYING:

"Melenchon talks about the issues that interest the French, those linked to socio-economic imbalance like unemployment and jobs, and these are the questions that preoccupy the French and his rhetoric is well received. And as time goes on we can see that the French consider that his is the best campaign."

Melenchon's had positive gains in the last two weeks and analysts believe he will continue to grow supporters with his strong anti-capitalist message.

(SOUNDBITE) (French) FAR-LEFT FRENCH PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE JEAN-LUC MELENCHON SAYING:

"The centre of the world -- the United States of America -- is in a crisis of supremacy. The economic model it relies on is in crisis. And as a result the beast is wounded and it is becoming dangerous. The somersaults you have noticed in the geo-political order and in the financial and economic world are the result of this situation."

While, he is still far behind rival leftwing candidates, his pro-worker message has forced socialist Francois Hollande and incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy to follow his lead in promising better severance and executive pay controls.

Jessica Gray, Reuters