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

The death of right-wing French politician Jean-Marie Le Pen on Tuesday has brought dark memories to the surface for many in Algeria, where he was accused of using torture during the war of independence.

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.

Marie Le Pen, an unabashed nationalist and founder of the French far-right National Rally party, has died aged 96. Following are reactions to his death. JORDAN BARDELLA, CHAIRMAN OF THE FAR-RIGHT NATIONAL RALLY "Jean-Marie Le Pen is dead.

Jean-Marie Le Pen espoused racist and antisemitic rhetoric that landed him in legal trouble in France, where Holocaust denial is illegal.

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.

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.

FILE - French far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen, center, flanked by his daughter Marine Le Pen, and Bruno Gollnisch, arrives for a wreath-laying ceremony at the statue of Joan of Arc, within the party’s traditional May Day march Saturday May 1, 2010, in Paris. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon, File)

Le Pen was convicted numerous times of antisemitism, discrimination and inciting racial violence. But the nativist ideas that propelled his popularity remain ascendant in today's France and beyond.