For years, the far-right National Rally tried to distance itself from Mr. Le Pen’s racist and antisemitic remarks. But after his death Tuesday, it hailed him as a visionary.

Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of the French far-right nationalist party formerly known as the National Front and a controversial force in the country's political life for decades, has died aged 96. President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday issued a terse acknowledgement of Le Pen's significant role in France's post-war society - but withheld any further assessment of his legacy.

Jean-Marie Le Pen, the longtime figurehead of France's far-right political movement and father of its current leader, has reportedly died.

- 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,

Jean-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.

This article is part of TPM Cafe, TPM’s home for opinion and news analysis. It was originally published at The Conversation. The death of Jean-Marie Le Pen, former leader of the party once known