Jean-Marie Le Pen – founder of French far right and ‘Devil of the Republic’
4 min read
Jean-Marie Le Pen, the founder of France’s far-right political movement, passed away at the age of 96, leaving behind a legacy that has sparked both admiration and controversy. He spent several decades as a prominent figure in French politics, playing a pivotal role in shaping the National Front (FN), which he established in 1972. Le Pen’s political journey and controversial views have made him a key figure in the history of French far-right politics.
Born in 1928 in La Trinité-sur-Mer, a small Breton village, Le Pen experienced a tumultuous childhood. At the age of 14, he lost his father when his fishing boat struck a German mine. This tragedy led to his designation as a “Pupille de la Nation,” a title given to children whose parents had been killed or wounded during wartime. A few years later, Le Pen sought to join the French Resistance against Nazi Germany, but he was rejected. Undeterred, he joined the French Foreign Legion in 1954 and served in several French-controlled territories, including Indochina and Egypt. His time in Algeria during the brutal Algerian War of Independence profoundly shaped his views, fostering his disdain for Charles de Gaulle, the president who ended the war and granted Algeria independence. Allegations that Le Pen participated in the torture of Algerian prisoners have followed him throughout his career, though he denied them.
Le Pen’s political career began in 1956 when he was elected to the French parliament in a right-wing party led by Pierre Poujade. However, he soon returned to Algeria for military service, and his political career stalled for a decade. His break came in 1972 when he founded the Front National (FN), aiming to unite the nationalist right-wing movement in France. Though his party initially garnered little support, Le Pen’s anti-immigration rhetoric began to resonate with a growing number of voters, especially in southern France, where many North African immigrants had settled.
Le Pen’s political fortunes began to rise in the 1980s, marked by his increasingly controversial statements. In 1987, he downplayed the Holocaust, calling it a “detail” of history, which sparked outrage and condemnation. Nevertheless, his party gained a significant foothold in French politics, winning 10% of the vote in the 1984 European elections. Le Pen also became a member of the European Parliament, where he fiercely opposed the European Union, dismissing the euro as “the currency of occupation.”
In the 2002 presidential election, Le Pen made a shocking leap to the second round, challenging incumbent President Jacques Chirac. This development sent shockwaves through France, with over a million people taking to the streets in protest. Chirac ultimately won the presidency with a landslide 82% of the vote, but the election highlighted the FN’s growing influence.
Le Pen continued to contest presidential elections but faced diminishing returns. His party struggled with financial issues, and by 2011, he resigned as FN leader, passing the mantle to his daughter, Marine Le Pen. The transition marked a shift in the FN’s approach, as Marine sought to moderate the party’s image in an effort to attract mainstream voters. This led to a deep rift between father and daughter, culminating in Jean-Marie’s expulsion from the party in 2015 after he reiterated his controversial Holocaust comments. Marine Le Pen rebranded the party as the National Rally (Rassemblement National), distancing herself from her father’s more extreme views.
Despite the strained relationship, Jean-Marie Le Pen remained unapologetic for his past remarks, including the Holocaust controversy, which he referred to as a “detail” that had resurfaced years later. In interviews, he expressed little regret over his rift with Marine, acknowledging the adversities he had faced throughout his political career. “Life is not a smooth tranquil stream,” he remarked, reflecting on his decades of struggle against the political mainstream.
Jean-Marie Le Pen’s death marks the end of an era for the National Front, now the National Rally, but his impact on French politics remains undeniable. His legacy, though divisive, played a significant role in the rise of far-right politics in France, influencing future generations of nationalist and anti-immigration leaders. Despite his controversial views and repeated legal battles, Le Pen’s political career showcased his resilience and determination to shift the French political landscape, even at the cost of alienating his family and the broader political establishment. His story remains a complex and contentious chapter in the history of modern French politics.
About The Author
