Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder and former leader of the Front National, died on January 7, 2025 at the age of 96. Born on June 20, 1928 in La Trinité-sur-Mer, Brittany, he left his mark on French political life through his commitment - and above all his anti-Semitic, racist and homophobic positions - and his role in the creation and development of the far-right party.
Jean-Marie Le Pen began his political career in 1956 as a member of parliament, then founded the Front National in 1972, alongside two former Waffen-SS members. Under his leadership, the party went from strength to strength, culminating in a run-off victory over Jacques Chirac in the 2002 presidential election. Throughout his career, he has defended nationalist, eurosceptic and anti-immigration positions.
Despite numerous scandals and his suspension from the Front National in 2015, Jean-Marie Le Pen has managed to federate a solid base of voters and influence the French political scene. He was also a Member of the European Parliament from 1984 to 2019, where he continued to defend his ideas and convictions.
