French Far-Right Politician, Jean-Marie Le Pen, Dies At 96

Jean-Marie Le Pen, the French far-right politician and founder of the National Front party, has passed away at the age of 96. His family confirmed that he died on Tuesday at midday in a care facility, surrounded by loved ones.

Le Pen, known for his extremist views on race, gender, and immigration, was also a Holocaust denier. He established the National Front in 1972, a party that later became a significant force in French politics. Le Pen ran for the presidency five times, famously reaching the second round in the 2002 election, where he faced Jacques Chirac.

Throughout his life, Le Pen was involved in numerous public controversies, from his participation in France’s colonial wars as a soldier to his contentious public feuds with family members, including his daughters and ex-wife. His daughter, Marine Le Pen, succeeded him as the leader of the National Front in 2011. She later rebranded the party as the National Rally, transforming it into one of the major political forces in France.

Le Pen’s legacy is marked by his controversial and polarizing stance on issues, which have left a lasting impact on the French political landscape.