PARIS, April 1 (Bernama-dpa) - French far-right icon Marine Le Pen has vowed to push for quick appeal proceedings to be able to run for president in 2027 after she was convicted of embezzlement on Monday, German Press Agency (dpa) reported.
"I will not allow myself to be eliminated just like that," Le Pen told broadcaster TF1 after the ruling, which banned her from running for office for five years.
Le Pen said she would use all available legal avenues to fight the decision to enable her to "consider a run for the presidential election."
Should she fail, Jordan Bardella, the 29-year-old leader of Le Pen's National Rally party, could run for president instead, Le Pen indicated.
"Jordan Bardella is a great asset to the party, and I've been saying that for a long time," she said.
"I hope we don't have to call on this trump card any sooner than necessary," Le Pen added.
-- BERNAMA-dpa
