Jean-Marie Le Pen (pictured), former president of the National Front and father of French politician and presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, has died at the age of 96, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported on Tuesday.
Le Pen founded the National Front in 1972. The 96-year-old has made five bids for the presidency, seeking the nation’s highest office in 1974, 1988, 1995, 2002, and 2007. His closest contest came in 2002 when he advanced to a runoff against Jacques Chirac but ultimately lost to the Union for a Popular Movement candidate.
In 2011, he was succeeded as party leader by his daughter, Marine Le Pen, who later renamed the party as National Rally, now headed by Jordan Bardella.
