Jean-Marie Le Pen, the controversial founder of France’s far-right National Front, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 96. His rhetoric, often charged with anti-immigrant and anti-multicultural sentiments, garnered him a devoted following as well as significant backlash throughout his long political career.
As a divisive figure in French politics, Le Pen frequently targeted Islam and Muslim immigrants, attributing various economic and social issues to their presence in the country. Notorious for denying the Holocaust, he faced multiple convictions for antisemitism, discrimination, and incitement to racial violence.
Despite these legal challenges and being sidelined in the political arena, the nativist ideologies that fueled his long-standing influence, encapsulated in slogans like “French People First,” continue to gain traction in contemporary France and across Europe.
Le Pen made history by reaching the second round of the presidential elections in 2002, where he was ultimately defeated by Jacques Chirac. Over time, he became estranged from his daughter, Marine Le Pen, who rebranded the National Front and consolidated its status as a formidable political entity, distancing herself from her father’s more extreme views.
Jordan Bardella, the current leader of the party, which has since been renamed the National Rally, announced Le Pen’s death on social media. His tribute presented Le Pen as a champion of the public, while blurring the lines the party had drawn between its origins and its evolved image under Marine Le Pen.
French President Emmanuel Macron extended his sympathies to Le Pen’s family in a brief statement from the presidential office, calling him a “historic figure” of the far right who had a long-standing impact on the national political landscape.
At the time of her father’s passing, Marine Le Pen was in Mayotte, assessing the damage from Cyclone Chido. Her father’s death occurs during a pivotal moment for her political career, as she is a top contender for the 2027 presidential race, provided she is not disqualified due to an ongoing embezzlement case.
Having served as a paratrooper and later in the Foreign Legion, Le Pen was known for his strategic acumen and powerful oratory skills. His dynamic charisma allowed him to connect with segments of the population that felt sidelined.
Le Pen’s defiant rhetoric often inflamed passions. For example, he once stated, “If I advance, follow me; if I die, avenge me; if I shirk, kill me,” during a 1990 party congress, showcasing the theatrical nature of his appeal.
With a history marked by provocative assertions—including Holocaust denial and proposals targeting marginalized groups—Le Pen argued that his motivations stemmed from a desire to preserve “eternal France,” frequently positioning himself as a patriotic defender of French identity.
Known for wearing a distinct black eye patch, a result of an injury sustained in 1965, Le Pen remained a prominent and disruptive presence in the French political scene. His influence forced opposing politicians to adjust their strategies across various elections.
The party he founded has not only maintained its visibility but has also impacted the broader political discussion in France, particularly concerning security and immigration policies.
Le Pen’s history is marred by numerous convictions; in 1990, he faced legal repercussions for comparing the Nazi gas chambers to a minor detail of World War II. His insistence on not regretting such statements led to further conflicts with the present-day leadership of the party, especially with Marine, who had taken steps to soften its image.
His political journey began in Brittany, where he was born on June 20, 1928. Early on, he gravitated towards the extreme right, eventually establishing the National Front in 1972 alongside former Waffen SS soldier Leon Gaultier. The party first gained significant traction with a strong showing in local elections in 1983, followed by notable successes in the European parliamentary elections and subsequent legislative elections.
Le Pen’s 1988 presidential campaign marked a turning point, as he garnered 14% of the votes, significantly raising his profile. This culminated in the 2002 presidential run-off against Chirac, capturing national and international attention.
In addition to his political controversies, Le Pen’s personal life was also fraught with challenges. He endured a tumultuous divorce that attracted media scrutiny, and he later remarried in 1991.
In his later years, he attempted to position Marine as his successor, but their differing approaches to leadership and ideology strained their relationship. By 2015, she had formally removed him from the party, subsequently rebranding the National Front to the National Rally in an attempt to reshape its image and diminish the harsh connotations associated with its history.
Throughout his life, Jean-Marie Le Pen remained adamant in his views, asserting himself as a vital figure in the nationalist movement in France, and his legacy will be analyzed and debated long after his passing.
