Jean-Marie Le Pen
Jean Louis Marie Le Pen (French pronunciation: [ʒɑ̃ maʁi lə pɛn]; born 20 June 1928) is a French politician who served as President of the right-wing National Front from 1972 to 2011. He also served as Honorary President of the National Front from 2011 to 2015.
Jean-Marie Le Pen | |
|---|---|
Le Pen in 2007 | |
| Honorary President of the National Front | |
| In office 16 January 2011 – 20 August 2015 | |
| President | Marine Le Pen |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Office abolished |
| President of the National Front | |
| In office 5 October 1972 – 15 January 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Party established |
| Succeeded by | Marine Le Pen |
| Member of the European Parliament | |
| In office 1 July 2004 – 1 July 2019 | |
| Constituency | South-East France |
| In office 24 July 1984 – 10 April 2003 | |
| Constituency | France |
| Member of the National Assembly | |
| In office 2 April 1986 – 14 May 1988 | |
| Constituency | Seine |
| In office 9 December 1958 – 9 October 1962 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | René Capitant |
| Constituency | Seine's 1st |
| In office 19 January 1956 – 5 December 1958 | |
| Constituency | Seine's 3rd |
| Regional Councillor | |
| In office 26 March 2010 – 13 December 2015 | |
| Constituency | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur |
| In office 27 March 1992 – 24 February 2000 | |
| Constituency | Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur |
| In office 21 March 1986 – 22 March 1992 | |
| Constituency | Île-de-France |
| Municipal Councillor of Paris | |
| In office 13 March 1983 – 19 March 1989 | |
| Constituency | 20th arrondissement |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 June 1928 La Trinité-sur-Mer, Brittany, France |
| Political party | Jeanne Committees (2016–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
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| Spouses | Pierrette Lallane
(m. 1960; div. 1987)Jeanne-Marie Paschos
(m. 1991) |
| Children | 3, including Marine |
| Relatives | Marion Maréchal (granddaughter) |
| Alma mater | Panthéon-Assas University |
| Profession |
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| Signature | |
| Website | jeanmarielepen |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | French Fourth Republic |
| Branch/service | French Army |
| Years of service |
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| Rank | 1st Lieutenant |
| Unit | |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
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Le Pen graduated from the faculty of law in Paris in 1949. After his time in the military, he studied political science and law at Panthéon-Assas University.
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. His progression in the 1980s is known as the "lepénisation of minds" due to its noticeable effect on mainstream political opinion. His controversial speeches and his integration into public life have made him a figure who polarizes opinion, considered the "Devil of the Republic" among his opponents or the "last samurai in politics" among his supporters. He has been convicted for statements downplaying the Holocaust, and fined for incitement to discrimination regarding remarks made about Muslims 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. His unexpected progress to the second round in the 2002 presidential election—where he would lose in a landslide to incumbent Jacques Chirac—left its mark on French public life, and the "21st of April" is now a frequently used expression in France. A former Member of the European Parliament (MEP), Le Pen served as the Honorary President of the National Front from 2011 to 2015. He was expelled from the party by his daughter Marine in 2015, after new controversial statements.