Jean-Marie Le Pen, an unabashed nationalist and founder of the French far-right National Front (Front National) party, has died aged 96, French media said on Tuesday.
Le Pen shook the French political establishment when he unexpectedly reached the presidential election run-off vote against Jacques Chirac in 2002, with his pugnacious mix of populism and charisma.
He was succeeded as party chief by his daughter, Marine Le Pen, who has since run for the presidency three times and turned the party, now branded the National Rally, into one of the country's main political forces.
1 dead as Typhoon Kalmaegi dumps heavy rains over central Philippines
Saudi Crown Prince bin Salman to visit Trump in White House
Man charged with 10 counts of attempted murder after knife attack on UK train
Tanzania's Hassan sworn into office after deadly election violence
