Marine Le Pen spoke out for the first time after she was found guilty

The court made a political decision, and the judge made a mistake, Marine Le Pen (56), president of the French right-wing National Rally party, said in her first reaction after the court sentenced her to four years in prison for embezzlement, two years suspended, and after she was banned from public office for five years.

In an interview with French TV channel TF1, Le Pen answered a question about why she left the courtroom before hearing the judge who handed down her sentence.

"I didn't need it anymore. I understood what was happening. The court deliberately tried to prevent me from running in 2027," she said.

Le Pen, if she appeals, which she has already announced, is not accepted, she must not run for president in the next presidential elections. According to the latest polls, she was in the lead, and as she had previously announced, this was supposed to be her last candidacy after she was unsuccessful three times in a row.

"Millions of people in France will now be denied the chance to vote for their favorite in the next election," Le Pen said.

She revealed that she "does not intend to retire from politics" despite the five-year ban, and that she will continue the appeal process "as strongly as possible".

"I will not give up. I am not demoralized, but I am scandalized by the decision. I feel bitter, I am innocent," she emphasized.

When asked who will be her potential replacement, and 29-year-old Jordan Bardella is already mentioned in the media, she replied that she will fight "until it's over". She described Bardella as a "miraculous force" for her movement.