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Marine Le Pen in political attack on her father after he belittles Holocaust Marine Le Pen in political attack on her father after he belittles Holocaust
(about 2 hours later)
France’s far-right Front National has been plunged into an all-out war between its president, Marine Le Pen, and her father Jean-Marie Le Pen, after he made comments belittling the Holocaust and defending Philippe Pétain, the leader of France’s Nazi collaborationist Vichy regime in the 1940s. France’s far-right Front National has been plunged into an all-out war between its president, Marine Le Pen, and her father Jean-Marie, after he made comments belittling the Holocaust and defending Philippe Pétain, the leader of France’s Nazi collaborationist Vichy regime in the 1940s.
In an unprecedented attack on her father that marks her first move to cut him out of the party he founded, Marine Le Pen issued a scathing press release warning that the 86-year-old would be prevented from standing in regional elections in the south of France. “Jean-Marie Le Pen seems to have descended into a strategy somewhere between scorched earth and political suicide,” she said. “His status as honorary president does not give him the right to hijack the Front National with vulgar provocations seemingly designed to damage me but which unfortunately hit the whole movement.” In an unprecedented attack on her father that marks her first move to cut him out of the party he founded, Marine Le Pen issued a scathing press release warning that the 86-year-old would be prevented from standing in regional elections in the south of France.
Jean-Marie Le Pen, who is currently an MEP, founded the Front National in 1972 and under him it became the most successful far-right, xenophobic party in western Europe. But when his youngest daughter Marine Le Pen took over the anti-immigrant, anti-Europe party in 2011 she led a public relations drive to rid it of its jack-booted imagery and anti-Semitic overtones. She has since sought to move the Front National from a protest vote to a major political movement with elected representatives across France, increasing scores in elections, winning mayors, MPs and – for the first time – a presence in the senate. “Jean-Marie Le Pen seems to have descended into a strategy somewhere between scorched earth and political suicide,” she said. “His status as honorary president does not give him the right to hijack the Front National with vulgar provocations seemingly designed to damage me, but which unfortunately hit the whole movement.”
Jean-Marie Le Pen, who is currently an MEP, founded the Front National in 1972 and under him it became the most successful far-right, xenophobic party in western Europe. When his youngest daughter Marine took over the anti-immigrant, anti-Europe party in 2011 she led a public relations drive to rid it of its jack-booted imagery and anti-Semitic overtones. She has since sought to move the Front National from a protest vote to a major political movement with elected representatives across France, increasing scores in elections, winning mayors, MPs and – for the first time – a presence in the senate.
The strategy helped lead the FN to first place in last year’s European elections in France and a quarter of the votes in the first round of local election polls last month. Her aim is to make the party more palatable to mainstream voters in the runup to the 2017 presidential race, which polls show could see her knocking out a mainstream candidate and reaching the second-round runoff.The strategy helped lead the FN to first place in last year’s European elections in France and a quarter of the votes in the first round of local election polls last month. Her aim is to make the party more palatable to mainstream voters in the runup to the 2017 presidential race, which polls show could see her knocking out a mainstream candidate and reaching the second-round runoff.
Until now, Le Pen father and daughter have avoided descending into an all-out family-feud – he remains an emblematic figure in the party and kept an honorary role at the top. But in recent days, after he let loose with fresh comments on the Holocaust, his daughter accused him of sabotaging her and a bitter feud has been played out in public. Until now, father and daughter have avoided descending into an all-out family-feud. Jean-Marie Le Pen remains an emblematic figure in the party and has kept an honorary role at the top. In recent days, however, after he let loose with fresh comments on the Holocaust, his daughter accused him of sabotaging her and a bitter feud has been played out in public.
First Jean-Marie Le Pen used a television interview to defend his view, which he first stated in 1996, that gas chambers used to kill Jews in the Holocaust were “merely a detail in the history of World War Two” – a remark for which he was originally convicted of inciting racial hatred and fined. He also holds a conviction for contesting crimes against humanity after saying the Nazi occupation of France was not “particularly inhumane”. First he used a television interview to defend his view, which he first stated in 1996, that the gas chambers used to kill Jews in the Holocaust were “merely a detail in the history of the second world war” – a remark for which he was originally convicted of inciting racial hatred and fined. He also holds a conviction for contesting crimes against humanity after saying the Nazi occupation of France was not “particularly inhumane”.
Marine Le Pen said she “deeply disagreed” and that he was being deliberately provocative.Marine Le Pen said she “deeply disagreed” and that he was being deliberately provocative.
Then in an interview on Wednesday with Rivarol, a far-right newspaper, Le Pen attacked his daughter’s criticism of his Holocaust comments, saying: “You’re only betrayed by your own.” Then in an interview on Wednesday with Rivarol, a far-right newspaper, he attacked his daughter’s criticism of his Holocaust comments, saying: “You’re only betrayed by your own.”
He also told Rivarol he defended Pétain, the leader of France’s Nazi collaborationist Vichy regime, who was convicted of treason after the second world war. He told the magazine: “I have never considered Marshall Pétain a traitor. He was treated too severely after the liberation.” He had earlier said there were “fervent” Pétain-supporters in the Front National. He also told Rivarol he defended Pétain, who was convicted of treason after the second world war. He told the magazine: “I have never considered Marshall Pétain a traitor. He was treated too severely after the liberation.” He had earlier said there were fervent Pétain-supporters in the Front National.
He then called France’s Spanish-born, Socialist prime minister, Manuel Valls, “the immigrant”. He then called France’s Spanish-born Socialist prime minister, Manuel Valls, “the immigrant”.
Contacted by Reuters, Le Pen confirmed he had given the interview and said, “You should expect anything these days.” Contacted by Reuters, he confirmed he had given the interview and said: “You should expect anything these days.”
Marine Le Pen had already distanced herself from her father last June after a quip about a French Jewish singer that included an implied reference to concentration camp ovens.Marine Le Pen had already distanced herself from her father last June after a quip about a French Jewish singer that included an implied reference to concentration camp ovens.
But the all-out feud this week marks the first total break between father and daughter. Speaking today of her “deep sadness”, Marine Le Pen said she would call a top-brass meeting at the party “to discuss ... how to best protect the political interests of the Front National”. The all-out feud this week, however, marks the first total break between father and daughter. Speaking on Wednesday of her “deep sadness”, Marine Le Pen said she would call a top-brass meeting at the party “to discuss … how to best protect the political interests of the Front National”.