Bardella, France's National Rally president, set to run in 2027 if Le Pen cannot

PARIS (Reuters) - Jordan Bardella plans to be the French far-right National Rally's presidential candidate in 2027 if the party's leader Marine Le Pen remains barred from running, he told Le Parisien newspaper.

Le Pen, 56, who has run for president three times and was a front-runner for the election, was barred from seeking public office for five years after a court found her and some members of her party guilty in March of misappropriation of funds.

Le Pen has denied wrongdoing and said she would appeal against the ruling, which she said was politically motivated and aimed at blocking her presidential bid.

Bardella, the 29-year-old president of the party and a European lawmaker, was not implicated by the court case. He has previously deflected questions about whether he would seek the country's highest public office in lieu of Le Pen.

However, he told Le Parisien late on Saturday: "There is no ambiguity about the fact that Marine Le Pen is my candidate, and if she was prevented tomorrow, I think I would be able to say to you that I will be the candidate. I cannot be clearer than that."

"Marine is presumed innocent and we will continue to use all possible means ... to continue to proclaim our innocence in this matter," he said.

Under French law, a citizen is eligible to run for president if they are over the age of 18.

Le Pen and party officials were accused of using European Union funds to pay for National Rally's staff in France.

(Reporting by Makini Brice; Editing by Bernadette Baum)