Jean-Marie Le Pen: France’s National Front founder dies aged 96
Jean-Marie Le Pen, the founder of the French far-right National Front (Front National) party has died aged 96.
Le Pen shook the French political establishment when he unexpectedly reached the presidential election run-off vote against Jacques Chirac in 2002, with his pugnacious race politics.
He was succeeded as party chief by his daughter, Marine Le Pen, who has since run for the presidency three times herself.