Jan. 7 (UPI) -- The founding father of France's far-right movement, Jean-Marie Le Pen, died Tuesday in a care facility after a short illness, his family said. He was 96 years old.
Legacy of National Front
Le Pen founded the National Front in 1972 and led it for four decades. He made five unsuccessful runs for the presidency and served eight terms in the European Parliament before ceding control to his daughter, Marine Le Pen. She later ousted him from the party in 2018 over his extremist rhetoric, rebranding it as National Rally.
Rise to Prominence
Le Pen started the National Front to unite nationalist elements under a single party, exploiting fears over mass immigration to fuel its rise from fringe appeal to mainstream success.
Legal Troubles
Last year, Jean-Marie and Marine Le Pen faced charges of embezzling European Parliament funds. They were accused of hiring aides for party internal business instead of representing constituents.
Controversies
Le Pen was a controversial figure who dismissed the Holocaust as a "mere detail" and praised France's Vichy Government, which collaborated with the Nazis. He faced fines and convictions for denying crimes against humanity.
Later Years
Despite legal troubles and controversial statements, Le Pen remained active in politics. He continued to make headlines with his provocative comments until his death.
Jean-Marie Le Pen, National Front, Marine Le Pen, European Parliament, National Rally
