Jean-Marie Le Pen, Controversial French Far-Right Leader, Dies at 96

Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of France’s far-right National Front (FN) and a polarizing figure in French politics, has passed away at the age of 96, his family confirmed. Known for his fiery rhetoric and hardline views on immigration and nationalism, Le Pen’s political career spanned decades, marked by repeated bids for the presidency. He gained global attention in 2002 when he shocked France by advancing to the second round of the presidential election, only to be decisively defeated by Jacques Chirac.

Le Pen’s career was fraught with controversy, including multiple convictions for hate speech and Holocaust denial. A staunch nationalist, he pushed his far-right agenda into the French political mainstream, but his inflammatory remarks often overshadowed his political ambitions. His daughter Marine Le Pen later took over the FN in 2011, rebranding it as the National Rally to appeal to broader voters, ultimately leading to a bitter rift between father and daughter.

Born in 1928 in Brittany, Le Pen’s early life was shaped by war and loss. After serving in the French Foreign Legion during the conflicts in Indochina and Algeria, he entered politics, founding the FN in 1972. Despite his expulsion from the party in 2015 over his repeated Holocaust denial, Le Pen remained unapologetic about his views, leaving behind a complex legacy as a pioneer of far-right populism in Europe.

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