Jean-Marie Le Pen, the founder of the French far-right National Front party has died aged 96.
Le Pen, who used pugnacious race politics to tap into working-class concerns over immigration and globalisation, shook the French political establishment when he unexpectedly reached the presidential election run-off vote against Jacques Chirac in 2002.
Front National founder Jean-Marie Le Pen in 2017.Credit: AP
A polarising figure in French politics, Le Pen was known for fiery rhetoric against immigration and multiculturalism, which earned him both staunch supporters and widespread condemnation. His controversial statements, including Holocaust denial, led to multiple convictions and strained his political alliances.
He was succeeded as party chief in 2011 by his daughter, Marine Le Pen, who has since run for the presidency three times herself.
Using populism, eloquence and charisma, Le Pen helped re-write the parameters of French politics in a career spanning 40 years that, in harnessing voter discontent over immigration and job security, in some ways heralded Donald Trump’s rise to the White House.
He also ushered in a political dynasty in France, handing the reigns of his extreme far-right party to his daughter, Marine – a relationship that later soured as the latter moved the party, born out of racism, to the mainstream.
Marine Le Pen succeeded her father at National Front leader, and has since rebranded the party.Credit: AP
Jean-Marie Le Pen fought in France’s colonial wars before moving into politics. After setting up the National Front, he went on to contest five presidential elections.
Fighting – both political and personal – plagued Le Pen’s life, and led to bitter feuds with his daughters and his ex-wife, often conducted publicly and furiously.
