Jean-Marie Le Pen, French far-right firebrand, dies at 96
By Jeffrey Agbo
Jean-Marie Le Pen, the founder of France’s far-right National Front and a polarising figure known for his inflammatory rhetoric against immigration and multiculturalism, has died at the age of 96.
Le Pen’s career spanned nearly seven decades, during which he earned both devoted followers and fierce critics. A gifted orator and wily political strategist, he championed a staunchly nationalist vision of “eternal France.” However, his legacy is marked by controversy, including multiple convictions for antisemitism, discrimination, and incitement of racial violence.
Le Pen’s provocative statements often shocked the public, from Holocaust denial to his 1987 proposal to isolate people with AIDS in special facilities. While he framed himself as a patriot safeguarding French identity, his critics denounced him as a symbol of extremism and division.
In 2002, Le Pen made history by reaching the second round of the French presidential election, a watershed moment for far-right politics in France. However, his increasingly radical views eventually alienated his daughter, Marine Le Pen. In 2015, Marine ousted her father from the party, rebranded it as the National Rally and distanced herself from his extremist image, transforming the group into a significant force in French politics.
Jordan Bardella, the current leader of the National Rally, confirmed Le Pen’s death on social media, describing him as a “tribune of the people” who “always served France.” French President Emmanuel Macron also acknowledged Le Pen’s passing, noting his role in shaping French political life while leaving history to judge his divisive legacy.
Marine Le Pen was in Mayotte, inspecting the aftermath of Cyclone Chido, when news of her father’s death broke. Despite their estrangement, her political career remains closely tied to her father’s legacy, especially as she faces legal challenges that could jeopardise her future in politics.
Jean-Marie Le Pen’s life was deeply intertwined with France’s far-right movement. Born on June 20, 1928, in Trinité-sur-Mer, Brittany, he was the son of a fisherman who died during World War II. A former paratrooper and Foreign Legionnaire, Le Pen fought in Indochina and Algeria before entering politics.
As leader of the National Front, he targeted Muslim immigrants, blaming them for France’s economic and social issues, and invoked Joan of Arc as the party’s symbolic patron saint. His theatrical and combative style, exemplified by his famous declaration, “If I advance, follow me; if I die, avenge me; if I shirk, kill me,” energised his supporters and cemented his place as one of the far-right’s most enduring figures.
Le Pen is survived by his wife and three daughters, Marie-Caroline, Yann and Marine.
