Jean-Marie Le Pen MEP |
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President of the National Front | |
In office 5 October 1972 – 15 January 2011 |
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Preceded by | position established |
Succeeded by | Marine Le Pen |
Member of the European Parliament | |
Assumed office 10 June 2004 |
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Constituency | South-East France |
In office 24 June 1984 – 10 April 2003 |
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Constituency | France |
Member of the French National Assembly | |
In office 2 April 1986 – 14 May 1988 |
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Constituency | Paris |
In office 19 January 1956 – 9 October 1962 |
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Constituency | 3rd district of the Seine |
Regional Councillor | |
In office 21 March 2010 – 13 December 2015 |
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Constituency | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur |
In office 22 March 1992 – 24 February 2000 |
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Constituency | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur |
In office 16 March 1986 – 22 March 1992 |
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Constituency | Île-de-France |
Municipal Councillor | |
In office 13 March 1983 – 19 March 1989 |
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Constituency | 20th arrondissement of Paris |
Personal details | |
Born |
La Trinité-sur-Mer, Brittany, France |
20 June 1928
Nationality | French |
Political party |
National Front (1972–2015) CNI (1958–1962) UFF (1956–1958) |
Spouse(s) | Pierrette Lalanne (1960–1987) Jeanne-Marie Paschos (1991–present) |
Relations |
Marine Le Pen (daughter) Marion Maréchal-Le Pen (granddaughter) |
Children | 3 |
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Awards |
Cross for Military Valour Combatant's Cross Colonial Medal Indochina North Africa Middle East |
Signature | |
Website | jeanmarielepen.com |
Military service | |
Allegiance | France |
Service/branch | French Army |
Years of service | 1953–55 1956-57 |
Rank | Intelligence Officer |
Unit |
Foreign Legion 1st Foreign Parachute Regiment |
Battles/wars |
First Indochina War Suez Crisis Algerian War |
Jean-Marie Le Pen (French pronunciation: [ʒɑ̃ ma.ʁi lə.pɛn]; born 20 June 1928) is a French politician who led the National Front party from its foundation in 1972 until 2011.
His progression in the late 1980s is known as the "Lepénisation des esprits" or "Le Pen-isation" of spirits due to its noticeable effect on mainstream political opinion. Le Pen focuses on issues related to immigration to France, the European Union, traditional culture and values, law and order and France's high rate of unemployment. He advocates immigration restrictions, the death penalty, raising incentives for homemakers, and euroscepticism. His controversial speeches and his integration into public life have made him a figure who polarizes opinion, considered as the "Devil of the Republic" among his opponents or as the "last samurai in politics" among his supporters.
His progress to the second round in the 21 April 2002 presidential election left its mark on French public life, and the "21st of April" is now a frequently used expression in France. His longevity in politics and his five attempts to become president of France have made him a major figure in French political life. He was expelled from the party by his daughter Marine Le Pen on 20 August 2015 after new controversial statements and found himself marginalized in the French political landscape.
Jean-Marie Le Pen was born on 20 June 1928 in La Trinité-sur-Mer, a small seaside village in Brittany, the son of Anne Marie Hervé and Jean Le Pen, a fisherman. He was orphaned as an adolescent (pupille de la nation, brought up by the state), when his father's boat was blown up by a mine in 1942. He was raised as a Roman Catholic and studied at the Jesuit high school François Xavier in Vannes, then at the lycée of Lorient.