Jean-Marie Le Pen, the founder of the French far-right political party Front National (FN), has passed away at the age of 96. He died on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, at a care facility in Garches, a suburb of Paris, where he had been residing for several weeks. His family confirmed the news to the AFP, stating that he was surrounded by loved ones at the time of his death.

Le Pen, a controversial figure in French politics, had led the FN for decades before handing over the presidency to his daughter, Marine Le Pen, in 2011. He was expelled from the party in August 2015 due to his controversial remarks about the Vichy regime and the Holocaust. Despite his expulsion, he remained the honorary president of the party until March 2018.

Jean-Marie Le Pen's death marks the end of an era for France's far-right movement. His legacy remains deeply polarizing, with some viewing him as a defender of French identity and others condemning his views on immigration, history, and national unity.