By Henry Oduah

Jean-Marie Le Pen, the founder of France’s far-right National Front and a deeply polarising figure in French politics, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 96.

Le Pen, known for his fiery anti-immigration rhetoric and nationalist agenda, played a pivotal role in shaping the far-right movement in France. His career was marked by both staunch support from his followers and widespread condemnation for his provocative statements, including Holocaust denial and calls to isolate people with AIDS in special facilities.

Jordan Bardella, current president of the National Rally, confirmed Le Pen’s death on social media, calling him a “tribune of the people” and expressing condolences to his family. French President Emmanuel Macron also issued a brief statement, describing Le Pen as a “historic figure of the far right” and leaving his legacy “for history to judge.”

Over the decades, Le Pen faced multiple convictions for antisemitism, incitement to racial hatred and discrimination. Despite this, he maintained that he was a patriot fighting to preserve the identity of “eternal France.”

A milestone in his controversial career came in 2002 when he shocked France by advancing to the second round of the presidential election. However, his extremist views and inflammatory rhetoric ultimately alienated many, including his daughter, Marine Le Pen.

In 2015, Marine expelled her father from the party he founded, rebranded it as the National Rally and distanced herself from his radical image. Under her leadership, the party softened its tone, becoming a mainstream political force. Despite their estrangement, Marine’s career remains tied to the legacy of her father’s far-right movement.

Le Pen’s passing comes at a pivotal moment for Marine, who is facing legal challenges that could lead to a prison sentence and a ban from political office if convicted of embezzlement.

Born on June 20, 1928, in the coastal village of Trinité-sur-Mer, Brittany, Le Pen was the son of a fisherman who died during World War II. A veteran of the Foreign Legion, he served in the wars in Indochina and Algeria before entering politics.

As the leader of the National Front, Le Pen’s message often targeted Muslim immigrants, whom he blamed for France’s social and economic challenges. His theatrical speeches and combative style epitomised by his famous call to action—“If I advance, follow me; if I die, avenge me; if I shirk, kill me”—earned him both admiration and notoriety.

Despite being ousted from the party in his later years, Le Pen’s influence on French politics endures. His National Front paved the way for the modern far-right movement in France, leaving a legacy that continues to stir debate.

Le Pen is survived by his wife and three daughters, Marie-Caroline, Yann and Marine.