Jean-Marie Le Pen, the founder of France’s far-right National Front party and a polarizing figure in French politics, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 96. His death was confirmed by National Rally (Rassemblement National), the party now led by his daughter Marine Le Pen.

Le Pen’s life was defined by conflict—whether as a soldier in France’s colonial wars, a politician contesting five presidential elections, or in public disputes with his family. His career was steeped in controversy, marked by multiple convictions for inciting racial hatred and minimizing war crimes.

He stirred outrage with inflammatory comments, including his infamous claim that Nazi gas chambers were "merely a detail" of World War II and his assertion that the Nazi occupation of France was "not especially inhumane." These remarks provoked widespread condemnation, particularly in France, where thousands of Jews were deported to Nazi death camps during the occupation.

President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged Le Pen’s death, calling him "a historic figure of the far right" and stating that his legacy is now a matter for history to evaluate.

Over a 40-year career, Le Pen reshaped French politics by channeling blue-collar discontent over immigration and globalization. His rhetoric foreshadowed similar populist movements worldwide, including Donald Trump’s rise in the U.S. He reached the presidential run-off in 2002 but was soundly defeated by Jacques Chirac, as voters rallied against the far-right gaining power.

A staunch critic of the European Union, Le Pen tapped into nationalist resentment that echoed sentiments later seen in Britain’s Brexit movement. His rise brought immigration and national identity to the forefront of French political discourse, influencing mainstream parties like Nicolas Sarkozy’s conservatives, who adopted tougher stances on these issues.

Born in Brittany in 1928, Le Pen studied law in Paris before joining the French Foreign Legion. As a soldier, he fought in Indochina and campaigned to keep Algeria under French control, controversially defending the use of torture in the conflict.

Le Pen’s political fortunes shifted in 1977 when a millionaire supporter left him a fortune, enabling him to advance his far-right agenda despite being ostracized by traditional parties. His leadership saw the National Front gain traction, drawing support from white working-class voters disillusioned with France’s political elite.

In 2011, Marine Le Pen succeeded her father as party leader, rebranding the National Front as the National Rally and seeking to distance it from its antisemitic roots. Despite their strained relationship, Jean-Marie Le Pen praised his daughter’s efforts after her defeat to Emmanuel Macron in 2022, acknowledging, "She did all she could, she did very well."

Marine Le Pen, now a prominent figure in French politics, is considered a leading contender for the 2027 presidential election, carrying forward a legacy shaped—and often overshadowed—by her father’s divisive and controversial career.