French far-right politician Jean-Marie Le Pen has passed away at the age of 96, as confirmed by a family statement. He died on Tuesday at midday in a care facility, surrounded by loved ones.
Le Pen, founder of the National Front party in 1972, was a polarizing figure known for his controversial views on race, gender, and immigration, as well as his Holocaust denial. He notably reached the presidential election run-off against Jacques Chirac in 2002.
His daughter, Marine Le Pen, took over as leader of the party in 2011 and successfully rebranded it as the National Rally, establishing it as a significant political power in France. Jordan Bardella, who succeeded Marine Le Pen as party chair in 2022, remarked that Jean-Marie Le Pen “always served France” and defended its identity and sovereignty.
Far-right nationalist Eric Zemmour reflected on Le Pen’s legacy, stating that despite the controversies, he was “among the first to alert France to the existential threats lurking.” Conversely, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of France Unbowed, emphasized the importance of judging Le Pen’s actions, which he deemed “unbearable,” while continuing the fight against the hatred and racism he propagated.
For decades, Le Pen was a controversial figure in France, often criticized as a far-right extremist. He faced multiple legal convictions for his radical statements and was expelled from the National Rally in 2015 following a repeated instance of Holocaust denial, which arose amidst a public dispute with his daughter, who accused him of seeking attention through such remarks.
