Reactions to the death of former French far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen by Reuters

PARIS (Reuters) – Jean-Marie Le Pen, the outspoken nationalist and founder of France’s far-right National Rally party, has died at the age of 96. Below are reactions to his death.

Jordan Bardella, head of the National Rally of the Far Right

“Jean-Marie Le Pen has died. He wore the uniform of the French army in Indochina and Algeria, he was an orator in the National Assembly and the European Parliament, he always served France, defending its identity and sovereignty. Today my thoughts are with his family. His family, his loved ones and of course (his daughter) the Navy, which must be respected.” “Her mourning.”

Emmanuel Macron, French President

He added: “He is a historical figure of the extreme right. He has played a role in the public life of our country for nearly seventy years, and it is now a matter that will be judged by history.”

François Bayrou, French Prime Minister

“Besides controversy, which was his weapon of choice (…), JM Le Pen was a figure in French political life. We knew from his fight how much of a fighter he was.”

Bruno Retaillo, French Minister of the Interior

“Today, a page in French political history has been turned. Whatever one thinks of Jean-Marie Le Pen, he has undoubtedly left his mark on his era.”

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, head of the far-left party Not to Submit to France:

“Respect for the dignity of the dead and the grief of their loved ones does not erase the right to judge their actions. Jean-Marie Le Pen’s actions remain intolerable. The battle against the man is over. The battle against the hatred, racism, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism he spreads continues.”

National Rally Party in a press release

“For the National Rally, he will remain the one who carried in his hands, through the storms, the flickering torch of the little French nation and who, through infinite will and perseverance, made the National Movement into an independent, strong and family-free political movement.

Eric Zemmour, former far-right presidential candidate

“Beyond the controversies and scandals, what we will remember about him in the coming decades is that he was among the first to alert France to the existential threats that lay ahead. His legacy will be his vision and his courage, at a time when there were few brave men around.”

Tom van Grecken, head of the far-right Flemish-Belgian party Vlaams Pinge

“With the death of Jean-Marie Le Pen, Marine Le Pen and her family lose a (grandfather) and nationalist Europe loses a founding father. He was an example for our party in many ways. Sometimes stubborn, often inflexible, but always clear and true to his principles.”