French far-right National Front founder Jean-Marie Le Pen dies aged 96

Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of the French far-right Front National party, now known as National Rally (RN), has died at 96.

Transcript

00:00Far-right French politician Jean-Marie Le Pen has died at the age of 96, according to

00:09his family.

00:10He had been in a care facility for several weeks.

00:15One of France's most controversial figures, Le Pen formed the Front National Party, since

00:20rebranded as the National Rally by his daughter Marine.

00:26Le Pen was an extremist on race, gender and immigration.

00:30His controversial statements, including Holocaust denial, led to multiple convictions.

00:35In 2002, he ran against Jacques Chirac in the presidential elections, a race he was

00:42expected to not even reach.

00:47Chirac won by a landslide.

00:50The moment, however, is seen as a turning point for the party, now one of France's main

00:55political forces.