Presidential candidates made appearances at the Lille braderie, one of Europe’s largest annual events, on Saturday. At least three candidates were present, including ecologist Marine Tondelier, Gabriel Attal representing the current presidential party, and Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who delivered a speech at 4:30 p.m. The braderie, held every year in Lille, is a major public event that draws around 2.5 million visitors and features a mix of markets, entertainment, and cultural activities. It has become a popular venue for political figures to engage with the public. Gabriel Attal was expected to kick off the political presence at the event with a breakfast meeting with supporters before walking through the streets. Marine Tondelier, who frequently attends the braderie, was scheduled to speak in the afternoon from her party's stand. Jérôme Guedj, a deputy and candidate in the socialist primary, and Arnaud Deslandes, the mayor of Lille and a member of the Socialist Party, were also expected to be in attendance. Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s appearance at the braderie for the second year in a row sparked criticism from local right-wing figures. Louis Delemer, head of the Republicans list in the last Lille municipal elections, criticized the event as a "national political meeting" and a "platform" for Mélenchon's party, La France Insoumise. He expressed concern over the scale of the setup, calling it "disproportionate" compared to the stands typically used by political parties. Xavier Bertrand, president of the Hauts-de-France region and a presidential candidate, was also expected to attend during the weekend. Meanwhile, Raphaël Glucksmann, co-president of Place publique and another presidential election candidate, was scheduled to appear at the Châlons-en-Champagne fair, the second-largest agricultural fair in France after Paris. This fair, like the Lille braderie, provides candidates with opportunities to connect with voters in different regions of the country.