Death of Jean-Marie Le Pen
Jean-Marie Le Pen, a historical figure in French extremism, has died at the age of 96, his family announced Tuesday.
Born on June 20, 1928, the former President of the National Front left his mark on French political life. He was distinguished by his commitment to his political training, but above all by his media appearances and provocative statements. He made criticism of immigration his main campaign issue.
During his lifetime, Le Pen served in the army during the Indochina and Algerian Wars.
In politics, Jean-Marie Le Pen runs for president five times. His best result came in the 2002 election, when he faced Jacques Chirac in the second round. But he will only receive 17.8% of the votes cast against the outgoing president, who benefits from a “republican front” against the far right.
