Who is Jean-Marie Le Pen? Did he die? Why did Jean-Marie Le Pen pass away and at what age?

Jean-Marie Le Pen, the ultra-nationalist founder of the French far-right National Front party and father of right-wing candidate Marine Le Pen, who lost to Emmanuel Macron in the 2022 French presidential election, has passed away at the age of 96. His daughter, Marine Le Pen, learned the news of her father's passing while in transit.

MARINE LE PEN LEARNED WHILE TRAVELING

Marine Le Pen learned that her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, had died while returning from a visit to Mayotte, a French overseas territory in Africa. She received the news during a technical stopover in Nairobi, Kenya, while on her way back to Paris.

His family announced to AFP on Tuesday, January 7, that the historic leader of the French far-right had died at the age of 96.

A POLITICIAN OF SURPRISES

Le Pen shook French politics with a "combative mix of populism and charisma" when he unexpectedly reached the second round of the presidential election in 2002 against Jacques Chirac.

FOLLOWING IN HER FATHER'S FOOTSTEPS

The party leadership was taken over by his daughter, Marine Le Pen, who has since run for president three times and turned the party, now called the National Rally, into one of the country's main political forces.

'GAS CHAMBER' REMARK ANGERED EVEN HIS DAUGHTER

Jean-Marie Le Pen had stated that the gas chambers established by the Nazis were "merely a detail in history," a remark that drew the reaction of his daughter, Marine Le Pen, the current leader of the National Front. Following this incident, the expulsion of Jean-Marie Le Pen from the party was brought to the agenda.

WHO IS JEAN-MARIE LE PEN?

Jean-Marie Le Pen is known as a French politician and far-right figure. He was born on June 20, 1928, in La Trinité-sur-Mer, France. Le Pen founded France's far-right party, the National Front (Front National, FN), in 1972 and led the party for many years. Throughout his political career, he drew attention with his anti-immigrant rhetoric, opposition to the European Union, and nationalist stance. However, his statements were frequently accused of racism and antisemitism, sparking major public controversy.

Le Pen created a significant political impact by reaching the second round of the French presidential election in 2002. This signaled that the far-right was a rising force in France. He handed over the party leadership to his daughter, Marine Le Pen, in 2011, but opposed the party's shift toward a more moderate direction. Throughout his career, Jean-Marie Le Pen has secured his place in French political history as a controversial figure who was both strongly criticized and praised by his supporters and opponents alike.