Jean-Marie Le Pen, the founder of the far-right party Front National, has had a long and controversial political career in France, marked by polarizing statements and ideologies rooted in racism and nationalism. His notable political moment came in 2002 when he advanced to the presidential runoff, shocking many by defeating the socialist candidate Lionel Jospin. Despite frequent scandals and legal troubles, including fines and court rulings concerning hate speech, Le Pen remained influential until his expulsion from the party in 2015, which was subsequently rebranded as Rassemblement National.