French Far Right Mourns: Father Le Pen Passes Away

france - The controversial figure of French far-right politics, Jean-Marie Le Pen, the founder of the National Front party, has passed away at the age of 96.

In a statement issued by his family, it was noted that Le Pen had been experiencing health issues for a long time.

Le Pen, born in 1928 in La Trinité-sur-Mer in the Brittany region of France, began his political career as a member of parliament in 1956. However, it was in 1972 that he made his mark on French political history by founding the National Front known for its far-right views.

Known for his anti-immigrant and nationalist rhetoric, Le Pen made it to the second round of the 2002 presidential elections but suffered a heavy defeat against Jacques Chirac.

Throughout his political career, Le Pen stayed in the headlines with his controversial statements and provocative style. He faced major backlash for his remarks on the Holocaust, leading to numerous legal actions against him.

Handing over the party leadership to his daughter Marine Le Pen in 2011, Le Pen largely withdrew from the political scene after being expelled from the party in 2015.