PARIS — Jean-Marie Le Pen, the founding figure of France’s foremost far-right political party, passed away on Tuesday at 96 years old. Despite his death, the anti-immigration and nationalist ideals that fueled his prominence continue to thrive in France and across Europe.

Marine Le Pen, his daughter, has rejuvenated the National Front, now known as the National Rally, transforming it into a significant political powerhouse as she sets her sights on the impending 2027 presidential election.

Here is an overview of pivotal moments in the life of one of France’s most polarizing political characters and the impact he left behind.

**1954-1957**
Jean-Marie Le Pen was born in 1928 in Brittany. His military service included combat in Indochina and Algeria, where he fought to uphold French colonial dominance. He participated as a paratrooper in the 1957 Battle of Algiers, later acknowledging his involvement in violent actions that he claimed were mandated by military commands in response to accusations of torture.

He first entered politics in 1956 when he was elected to the French National Assembly representing a populist party.

**1972**
In a bid to garner support for his nationalist and anti-immigration stance, Jean-Marie Le Pen established the National Front to facilitate his candidacy for the 1974 presidential election, where he garnered a mere 0.74% of the vote.

**1984**
By 1984, the National Front had cemented itself as a recognizable entity within French politics, winning 10 seats in the European Parliament, including one for Le Pen himself.

**1987**
During an 1987 interview, Le Pen infamously labeled the gas chambers of Nazi concentration camps as a “detail in World War II history.” He reiterated this assertion in 2015, stating he had no regrets about his words, which incited significant backlash, particularly from his daughter, who had by then taken the helm of the party.

**2002**
Le Pen’s unexpected qualification for the second round of the presidential election in 2002 shocked the political landscape in France, resulting in an unprecedented display of unity from leftist and right-wing constituents against him. Ultimately, conservative opponent Jacques Chirac triumphed with an overwhelming 82% of the ballot.

Following this, Le Pen pushed for the inclusion of “national preference” in the French Constitution, aiming to restrict social benefits and job opportunities exclusively to French citizens, labeling immigration as “the greatest danger we’re facing.”

**2011**
In 2011, Marine Le Pen succeeded her father as leader of the National Front, embarking on a mission to reshape the party’s image and distance it from its history of racism and antisemitism.

**2015**
Jean-Marie Le Pen was expelled from the National Front due to his increasingly controversial remarks. In 2018, he lost the honorary title of president-for-life as the party underwent a rebranding, subsequently taking the name National Rally.

**2017 and 2022**
Marine Le Pen made two presidential bids, both reaching the second round but ultimately succumbing to centrist Emmanuel Macron. In the 2022 election, she improved her performance significantly, securing 41.5% of the vote compared to 33.9% in 2017. In July 2022, she gained a seat in the National Assembly, enhancing her political authority.

**2024**
As of 2024, the National Rally emerged as one of the three major factions in the National Assembly, acquiring over 120 seats during unexpected legislative elections called by President Emmanuel Macron. At the year’s end, both Marine Le Pen and other party officials faced trial over allegations of misusing EU funds intended for parliamentary aides to compensate party staff from 2004 to 2016. A possible prison sentence and a prohibition on holding public office loom, with a ruling expected in March.