PARIS, Aug 29: Extremist rightwing leader Jean-Marie Le Pen, speaking before his National Front troops during their summer congress at Annecy in the French Alps, says that it’s likely he will once again run for the French Presidency, although he will be all of 79 when new presidential elections are to be held in 2007.

“What does it matter whether I’ll be 79 at the time, or indeed 84 in 2012 at the time of the following presidential elections? My health is terrific and I have no problems to speak of, so age doesn’t really matter. And then, didn’t the biblical figure Methuselah go on to die at the ripe age of 900?”

Also, he adds, “I wouldn’t be surprised if President Chirac,” who himself will turn 70 later this year, “didn’t last out his term in office. In any case, I hope he won’t for the sake of France and for the French.”

Mr Le Pen, who has already run for the French presidency in 1974, 1988 and 1995, pulled a major surprise this year during his fourth try for the presidency when he came in second during first-round presidential elections on April 21, shutting the door to premier Lionel Jospin.