Died in nursing home

Front National founder Jean Marie Le Pen (96) dead

Over the course of his political career, Le Pen repeatedly caused a stir with racist, anti-Semitic and, most recently, homophobic statements.(Bild: AFP)

Front National founder Jean-Marie Le Pen has died at the age of 96. The French right-wing extremist was the father of politician Marine Le Pen, who followed in his footsteps years ago and carried on his political legacy.

Jean-Marie Le Pen was leader of the far-right party from 1972 to 2011. He was expelled from the party in 2015 for "serious misconduct". He was a Member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2019.

The Holocaust denier stood in five presidential elections and surprisingly made it to the run-off against Jacques Chirac in 2002, but lost to him.

Pictures of Jean-Marie Le Pen:

Over the course of his political career, Le Pen repeatedly caused a stir with racist, anti-Semitic and, most recently, homophobic remarks.(Bild: AFP)

Le Pen with his daughter Marine(Bild: AFP)

Le Pen in 1974(Bild: AFP)

Le Pen with his wife Pierrette and daughter Marie-Caroline in 1974(Bild: AFP or licensors)

Le Pen 1985 in the European Parliament(Bild: AFP)

Le Pen 1960 in Paris(Bild: AFP)

Constantly in conflict with the law
In the course of his political career, Le Pen repeatedly caused a stir with racist, anti-Semitic and, most recently, homophobic statements. He also made headlines for insults and other breaches of the law. By April 2007, he had been convicted a total of 25 times.

The media always categorized Le Pen as an extreme right-wing politician. He always stood for the motto "ni droite, ni gauche, français" (neither right nor left, French, note).