Emmanuel Macron promised more "progress" and "solidarity" over the next five years at his first, and only, big meeting on Saturday in his race for reelection, reports RFI.
He also waved the spectre of a Brexit-like debacle to rally dispirited voters.
Macron's entourage pulled out all the stops for Saturday's meeting which will likely be the only one in the capital before the first round of voting on 10 April.
They booked the La Défense Arena, the largest indoor stadium in Europe, seating capacity of 40,000, which most often hosts rugby matches.
Happily for the team, there were not too many empty seats. Enthusiastic supporters waiving the French tricolour flag chanted “Macron, president!” “One, two, five more years!”
"We are here to make possible a project of progress, of independence, for the future, for our France,” Macron told a crowd of around 30,000 during his two-hour speech.
He began with a long list of accomplishments and promises to create jobs in hospitals and nursing homes, in a clear attempt to convince centre-left voters whom pollsters say could end up abstaining.