PARIS, Jan 30, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - French far-right leader Marine Le Pen said she aims to lead France as the president of a "non-aligned" power but insisted she was not seeking the post of prime minister in the case of new legislative elections.

Le Pen, who has three times unsuccessfully sought the French presidency, has kept an uncharacteristically low profile since the death earlier this year of her father Jean-Marie Le Pen who co-founded France's postwar far right movement.

Satirical weekly Le Canard Enchaine reported that Le Pen, 56, had decided to lead the government, rather than party chief Jordan Bardella, 29, if her National Rally (RN) party were to win legislative elections.

"I have always said that Jordan Bardella would be prime minister. That has not changed," Le Pen told LCI TV late Wednesday. "We have been working for years with a clear objective, the presidency for me and Matignon (the office of the prime minister) for him," she said.

"We form a kind of duo that works extremely well."

She emphasised she was not asking President Emmanuel Macron to resign but did not rule out that he could be forced to step down in th case of "a political crisis", or "a major economic crisis".

Analysts believe that Le Pen has her best chance yet of winning the Elysee in 2027 polls, especially in a world with a growing number of potential allies on the right such as Italian premier Georgia Meloni and US President Donald Trump.

"I aim to lead France," said Le Pen.

Outlining her international vision, she added: "France is a special power. It is a balancing power, a non-aligned power. A power that cannot become subject to anyone, neither to the United States, nor to the European Union, nor to Russia, nor to any other power."

But a major hurdle lies ahead of her ambitions, with Le Pen and other RN defendants on trial on charges of creating fake jobs at the EU parliament, which they deny. 

The verdict is due on March 31 in a ruling that could mark a major crossroads in French politics.

If convicted, she could receive, according to the requests by prosecutors, a jail sentence and a ban from public office that would disqualify her from the presidential polls even if she appeals.

"I am completely innocent of the accusations. If I am convicted, I will appeal. I will use all avenues available to me to prove my innocence," Le Pen said.