The historic leader had been hospitalized for several weeks. In his political career, he had controversial statements against immigration, multiculturalism and in favor of Holocaust denialism.
Jean-Marie Le Pen, historic leader of the far-right in France, died this Tuesday at the age of 96according to his family in a statement sent to the press. Le Pen, who I had been hospitalized for several weeks in a care center due to his weak state of health, he died at noon “surrounded by his family,” the statement said.
His controversial statements, such as Holocaust denial, earned him multiple convictions and strained his political alliances.
Jean-Marie Le Pen dies
“Jean-Marie Le Pen, surrounded by his family and friends, was called back to God at 12 noon on Tuesday,” his family said in a statement sent to the press. Le Pen, a divisive figure in French politics, was known for his combative rhetoric against immigration and multiculturalismwhich earned him both fervent followers and widespread condemnation.
“After having served in the French army in Indochina and Algeria, and as tribune of the people in the National Assembly and the European Parliament, he has always been at the service of France and has defended its identity and sovereignty,” he wrote on the social network the president of RN, Jordan Bardella.
Jean Marie Lepen
@CerfiaFR
The career of the leader of the French far-right Jean-Marie Le Pen
The founder of the National Front (FN) in 1972, Known for his xenophobic and anti-Semitic commentsshocked France in 2002 by entering the presidential election runoff, which he lost to the conservative Jacques Chirac. In 2011, he handed over the reins of the party to his daughter Marine Le Penwho renamed it in 2018 as National Group (RN, for its acronym in French) and made an effort to moderate the image of the training.
Under his leadership, the National Regroupment came closer to power than ever before, becoming the main parliamentary opposition group in Francealthough still without managing to conquer the institutions of Paris. In October 2022, the party celebrated its 50th anniversary, coinciding with the most favorable moment in its political history.
Following his father’s milestone in 2002, Marine Le Pen also entered the presidential runoff in 2017 and 2022which won Emmanuel Macron, but it was imposed as a central policy in France. The historic far-right leader had a heart problem in April 2023 and a year later the court appointed his three daughters -Marine, Marie-Caroline and Yann- as his representatives due to his weakened state of health.
Source: Ambito
