French far-right leader Marine Le Pen said on Sunday she would peacefully fight her five-year ban from running for office and draw inspiration from American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.,

Far-right leader Le Pen might struggle to mobilize support by portraying her conviction as the result of an establishment-led witch hunt, experts said.

A week after Marine Le Pen was found guilty of using European Parliament funds to pay party staff in France, thousands gathered to protest against her ban from running for office.