French 'Far-Right Elder' Jean-Marie Le Pen Passes Away at 96 Years Old

Jean-Marie Le Pen, a symbolic figure of France's 'far-right' politics, passed away on the 7th (local time) at the age of 96.

According to AFP and other sources, his family announced that Jean-Marie Le Pen died in the presence of his family members that afternoon. His health had deteriorated over the past few years, and he had recently been staying in a nursing facility.

Marine Le Pen. Photo by AP Yonhap News

Jean-Marie Le Pen was the founder of the far-right party National Front (FN) in 1972, which advocated anti-communism, nationalism, anti-immigration, and opposition to the European Union (EU). Born in La Trinit?-sur-Mer in northwestern France, he became the youngest member of the French National Assembly in his twenties. Early in his political career, he was shunned for his extreme nationalist and racist views, including claims that Middle Eastern, African, and Asian people were 'inferior races.' Notably, he sparked controversy by describing the Nazi Holocaust of Jews during World War II as a 'minor incident.'

He ran for president five times from 1974 to 2007 but was defeated each time. His prominence peaked during the 2002 presidential election when he advanced to the runoff, becoming the first far-right candidate to do so, after defeating Socialist Lionel Jospin. In the runoff, Jacques Chirac, the Republican candidate, won with a record 82% of the vote, but Le Pen's approximately 18% share shocked French society as a whole.

French far-right politician Jean-Marie Le Pen is showing affection by kissing the cheek of his youngest daughter and political successor, Marine Le Pen, in November 2014. Photo by AP Yonhap News

Jean-Marie Le Pen's later years were marked by a rift with his political successor, his daughter Marine Le Pen. After Marine took over as FN leader in 2011, she permanently expelled her father from the party in 2015 due to his Nazi-sympathizing remarks and extremist views. At that time, she strongly condemned her father's Holocaust comments as 'political suicide.' Subsequently, Marine Le Pen partially revised the party's stance and renamed FN to National Rally (RN). Jean-Marie Le Pen also criticized his daughter both directly and indirectly.

Major foreign media outlets have given significant coverage to Jean-Marie Le Pen's death. The Associated Press reported, "Jean-Marie Le Pen has passed away, but his far-right nationalist ideology continues across France and Europe," adding, "His daughter Marine Le Pen transformed FN (now RN) into one of the most powerful political forces in France and is currently aiming for the 2027 presidential election." The British BBC stated, "For decades, Jean-Marie Le Pen was the most controversial politician in France," but also noted, "His strong anti-immigration policies attracted voter attention." The American CNN highlighted, "He was present at every stage of postwar far-right history in France."

Marine Le Pen did not immediately comment on her father's death. Jordan Bardella, RN leader and far-right politician, expressed condolences, saying, "He always served France and defended France's identity and sovereignty." French President Emmanuel Macron called him a "historical figure of the far-right" and said, "History will judge the role he played in French politics." Jean-Luc M?lenchon, leader of the radical left party La France Insoumise (LFI), offered condolences but added, "His actions are intolerable. The fight against the hatred, racism, Islamophobia, and anti-Semitism he spread continues."