Jean-Marie Le Pen

[[File:Jean-marie le pen cropped.jpg|thumb|165px|Le Pen in 2007.]]{{FrenchPolitics}}'''Jean-Marie Le Pen''' {{lived|1928|2025}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/former-french-far-right-leader-jean-marie-le-pen-dies-aged-96-media-reports-2025-01-07/|title=Former French far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen dies aged 96|work=Reuters|date=January 7, 2025}}</ref> was a [[Holocaust denier]] and co-founder and former leader of the [[French]] [[far-right]] party [[Front National]] (renamed in 2018 as [[National Rally]]). He was the president of that party since its creation in 1972 until his retirement in 2011 when he was succeeded by his less-racist daughter [[Marine Le Pen]]. He was a zealous [[Roman Catholic]] and, in accord with his [[Social conservative|socially conservative]] views, one of his primary goals was to "clean up" [[France]] of "[[Xenophobia|lazy immigrants]]" and to put [[Theocracy|Catholic policy back into French politics]].

He was notable for having managed to advance to the second round of the 2002 presidential election, partly due to [[left-wing]] division, earning a "democracy defense" victory for his mainstream [[conservative]] rival Jacques Chirac. Also noteworthy: in August of 2015, he was kicked out of the party he founded, which was good even if it was largely a cynical PR move. Of course, he was also admired by [[American]] counterparts [[Ann Coulter]] and [[Pat Buchanan]] notwithstanding his [[Ameriphobia|anti-Americanism]].

==Extremist past==
Le Pen enlisted in the Foreign Legion and stationed in French Indochina (comprising Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia) in 1954 after France lost in battle of Dien Bien Phu. Le Pen was again sent to war in the Suez during the Suez Crisis in 1956, but arrived only after the war ended. His final destination during his military career was in Algeria. He allegedly tortured civilians and prisoners of war, and later in his life would initially deny his crimes until he finally admitted them.<ref>[https://www.lemonde.fr/en/france/article/2025/01/11/jean-marie-le-pen-s-confession-on-torture-during-the-algerian-war-i-do-it-under-the-orders-of-my-captain_6736937_7.html Jean-Marie Le Pen's confession on torture during the Algerian War: 'I do it under the orders of my captain'] Lemonde</ref>

==Racism==
===Antisemitism and Holocaust denial===
Because of his anti-immigration policies and the fact that he was found guilty on a charge of [[Holocaust denial]],<ref>[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1578053/Le-Pen-found-guilty-of-Holocaust-denial.html Le Pen found guilty of Holocaust denial] Telegraph</ref> many people had labeled him as a [[Nazi]]. He defended his immigration policies by saying that he wanted to get rid of only the "lazy" immigrants.

He said that the gas chambers were "[[Holocaust denial|a minor detail]]" in the history of the [[Second World War]], proclaiming his belief in the "[[Racialism|inequality between the races]]". He was found guilty by the courts for his comments and was later charged and fined for his bigoted statements.<ref>[https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/06/jean-marie-le-pen-fined-again-dismissing-holocaust-detail Jean-Marie Le Pen fined again for dismissing Holocaust as ‘detail’] The Guardian</ref>

===Torture in Algeria===
Le Pen was accused of [[torture]] by [[French]] mainstream newspaper ''Le Monde'', which Le Pen has repeatedly denied<ref name=soullier>[https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2018/02/21/torture-en-algerie-jean-marie-le-pen-dement-une-nouvelle-fois_5260134_823448.html Torture en Algérie : Jean-Marie Le Pen dément une nouvelle fois] by Lucie Soullier (21.02.2018 à 09h22 • Mis à jour le 21.02.2018 à 10h31) ''Le Monde''.</ref> even though he was quoted by the newspaper ''Combat'' in 1962 as saying: {{quotebox|We tortured in [[Algeria]] because it had to be done.<ref name=soullier/>}} Le Pen lost a defamation lawsuit against ''Le Monde'' regarding their accusation of torture against him.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/1434236/Le-Pen-loses-torture-claim-case.html Le Pen loses torture claim case] by Philip Delves Broughton (12:01AM BST 27 Jun 2003) ''The Telegraph''.</ref> Committing torture during war is considered a [[war crime]].

==Other craziness==
Le Pen has called for the forced quarantine of people with [[AIDS]]<ref>[http://www.ina.fr/economie-et-societe/vie-sociale/video/I00005231/le-pen-et-le-sida-les-modes-de-contagion-la-sodomie-et-la-drogue-et-l-exclusion.fr.html In French]</ref> and once stated that he hoped the [[Ebola]] [[virus]] outbreak would sort out global overpopulation.<ref>[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/21/jean-marie-le-pen-ebola-population-explosion-europe-immigration Jean-Marie Le Pen suggests Ebola as solution to global population explosion]</ref>

Le Pen believed the [[Nazi Germany|Nazi occupation]] of [[France]] "wasn't really so bad".<ref>[http://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/jan/13/secondworldwar.france Nazi occupation not inhumane — Le Pen]</ref>

He responded to a Jewish critic by saying "we'll put a batch in the oven".<ref>[https://www.timesofisrael.com/french-court-clears-far-right-party-founder-le-pen-over-antisemitic-oven-quip/ French court clears far-right party founder Le Pen over antisemitic ‘oven’ quip] Times of Israel</ref>

His antics eventually became too extreme even for his (slightly-less-bigoted) daughter [[Marine Le Pen|Marine]], leading her to expel him from the party in 2015.<ref>[http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-34009901 French National Front expels founder Jean-Marie Le Pen] BBC</ref>

==See also==
*[[National Rally]] — The far-right party he co-founded as [[Front National]] and led for 30 years.
*[[Marine Le Pen]] — His daughter, successor leader of the National Rally. Still a far right racist, but less batshit insane and bigoted than her father was.

==Notes==
*[http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jean-Marie_Le_Pen His various stupid quotes]

==References==
{{reflist|2|80%}}

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[[Category:Antisemites]]
[[Category:Catholics]]
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[[Category:Conspiracy theorists]]
[[Category:Ethnic entrepreneurs]]
[[Category:Great Replacement conspiracy theorists]]
[[Category:Fascists]]
[[Category:French politicians]]
[[Category:French politics]]
[[Category:Holocaust denialists]]
[[Category:Homophobes]]
[[Category:Islamophobes]]
[[Category:Military]]
[[Category:Racists]]
[[Category:Right-wing activists]]
[[Category:War criminals]]

Categories: Antisemites, Catholics, Christians, Conspiracy theorists, Ethnic entrepreneurs, Great Replacement conspiracy theorists, Fascists, French politicians, French politics, Holocaust denialists, Homophobes, Islamophobes, Military, Racists, Right-wing activists, War criminals