French far-right politician Jean-Marie Le Pen dies at 96

French far-right politician Jean-Marie Le Pen has died aged 96, according to a family statement shared with AFP.

Le Pen, who had been in a care facility for several weeks, died at midday on Tuesday “surrounded by his loved ones”, the family said.

Le Pen – a Holocaust denier and an unrepentant extremist on race, gender and immigration – founded the French far-right National Front party in 1972.

He reached the presidential election-run off against Jacques Chirac in 2002.

Le Pen’s daughter, Marine, took over as party chief in 2011. She has since rebranded the party as National Rally, turning it into one of France’s main political forces.