French far-right figurehead Jean-Marie Le Pen passes away at 96

Jean-Marie Le Pen, the founder of France's far-right political party, the National Rally (formerly the Front National), has passed away at the age of 96, his family confirmed on Tuesday, January 7. 

His death marks the end of a long and controversial political career that shaped the trajectory of France's far-right movement, Caliber.Az reports, citing Western media.

The National Rally issued a statement honoring Le Pen as a "courageous and talented politician" who dedicated his life to serving his country. Despite his polarizing views and controversial rhetoric, Le Pen played a pivotal role in bringing nationalism and anti-immigration politics into the mainstream.

Le Pen founded the Front National in 1972, struggling in the early years to gain widespread recognition. His presidential bid in 1974 saw him secure less than 1% of the vote. However, in the 1984 European elections, his party surged to 10% of the vote, and Le Pen won a seat as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP), a role he held for over three decades.

Throughout his career, Le Pen remained notorious for his extreme views on immigration, nationalism, and his contentious remarks on history. Notably, he was convicted multiple times for inflammatory statements, including his infamous claim in 1990 that Nazi gas chambers were merely a "detail in World War II history." He repeated similar remarks in 2016, which led to further legal consequences.

One of the defining moments of Le Pen's career came in 2002 when he unexpectedly advanced to the second round of the French presidential elections, facing incumbent President Jacques Chirac. While Chirac won by a landslide, the event marked a significant milestone for Le Pen's party, solidifying its place as a major force in French politics.

In 2015, Le Pen's daughter, Marine Le Pen, succeeded him as the leader of the National Front (renamed National Rally in 2018). Marine sought to distance the party from her father’s extreme policies, rebranding it in an attempt to appeal to a broader, more moderate electorate. This decision, however, led to tensions between father and daughter. In 2021, Jean-Marie Le Pen endorsed far-right politician Éric Zemmour over Marine for the 2022 presidential elections, further deepening their estrangement.

Throughout his later years, Le Pen faced health challenges and legal issues. In February of the previous year, his family placed him under legal guardianship due to his deteriorating condition. In November 2022, Marine Le Pen publicly defended her father after videos surfaced showing him singing along with a neo-Nazi band, asserting that his advanced age and frailty had led to exploitation.

Jean-Marie Le Pen is survived by his three daughters and his second wife, Jany, whom he married in 1991. Despite the controversies that surrounded his life and legacy, his influence on France’s far-right politics remains undeniable.

By Khagan Isayev