Jean-Marie Le Pen, Far-Right Pioneer in French Politics, Dies at 96
The co-founder of the National Front reshaped French politics, mainstreaming far-right ideology while remaining a deeply polarizing figure.
- Jean-Marie Le Pen co-founded the National Front in 1972, uniting disparate far-right factions into a significant political force in France.
- Under his leadership, the National Front gained prominence, reaching the second round of the 2002 presidential election, a first for the far-right in modern French history.
- Le Pen’s controversial statements, including Holocaust denial and anti-immigration rhetoric, led to multiple convictions and hindered broader support for his party.
- His daughter, Marine Le Pen, took over the party in 2011, rebranding it as the National Rally and adopting a strategy of 'de-demonization' to broaden its appeal.
- Le Pen leaves behind a legacy of normalizing far-right ideologies in French and European politics, with his influence still evident in the rise of far-right parties across the continent.
