Jean-Marie Le Pen, a domineering and polarizing figure in French politics and founder of the National Rally party, died at age 96. National Rally President Jordan Bardella announced his death on Tuesday in a post on X.

PARIS (AP) — Jean-Marie Le Pen, the founder of France’s far-right National Front who was known for fiery rhetoric against immigration and multiculturalism that earned him both staunch supporters and widespread condemnation, has died. He was 96.

Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of the French far-right political party the National Front, has died aged 96, a senior party official has announced.

Jean-Marie Le Pen, father of Marine Le Pen and the defining figure of France’s postwar far-right movement, has died at the age of 96, according to French network BFMTV.

For years, the far-right National Rally tried to distance itself from Mr. Le Pen’s racist and antisemitic remarks. But after his death Tuesday, it hailed him as a visionary.

Once called the 'most hated man in France', Le Pen maintained that his ideas were simply 'ahead of their time'

Controversy was Le Pen's constant companion: accusations of racism and antisemitism dogged the National Front from when he co-founded the party.

Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of France’s far-right National Rally (RN) party, has died aged 96. Le Pen, who led the party for nearly four decades until 2011, when it was called National Front (FN), had previously been taken to hospital with suspected heart problems.

Jean-Marie Le Pen died at the age of 96. He married Pierrette Lalanne on June 29, 1960. The couple had three daughters -- Marie-Caroline, Yann, and Marine Le Pen. However, their marriage ended in divorce on March 18,

The founder of France's National Rally party, and father of Marine Le Pen, pioneered Trump-style populist, anti-immigrant politics.