French politician Marine Le Pen has firmly rejected calls to step back from politics following her conviction, labeling it an undemocratic move designed to silence both her and her supporters.
"This conviction does not signal my exit from political life," she asserted during an interview with TF1, portraying the ruling as an affront to voters. "I'm like the voters, outraged, indignant, but this indignation is an additional driving force in the fight I'm waging on their behalf."
Le Pen took aim at the judiciary's influence, stating, "I'm not prepared to submit to a denial of democracy so easily. No judge can decide to interfere in an election as important as the presidential election."
