Jean-Marie Le Pen, Controversial Far-Right Figure, Passes Away at 96

Family sources confirmed Le Pen's passing, acknowledging his significant yet contentious influence in French politics.

Jean-Marie Le Pen has died at the age of 96, as confirmed by a statement from his family shared with AFP. He passed away on Tuesday afternoon while in a care facility, surrounded by relatives. Le Pen, who founded the far-right National Front party in 1972, was known for his extremist views on race, gender, and immigration, as well as his Holocaust denial.

He notably reached the presidential run-off in 2002 against Jacques Chirac. Under his daughter Marine Le Pen’s leadership starting in 2011, the party was rebranded as National Rally and emerged as a significant force in French politics. Jordan Bardella, who took over the party chair in 2022, praised Jean-Marie Le Pen for his commitment to France’s identity and sovereignty.

Far-right nationalist Eric Zemmour commented on social media, acknowledging Le Pen as one of the first to warn France of potential existential threats, despite his controversial history. In contrast, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of the leftist party France Unbowed (LFI), noted that while respect for the deceased is important, it doesn't erase the profound criticisms of Le Pen’s actions, labeling them as intolerable.

For decades, Le Pen was a polarizing figure in French politics, frequently criticized for his inflammatory rhetoric, leading to multiple court convictions. His expulsion from the National Rally in 2015 came after he repeated his denial of the Holocaust, amid a public fallout with his daughter, who accused him of trying to reclaim attention by expressing radical views.