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| French National Front expels founder Jean-Marie Le Pen | French National Front expels founder Jean-Marie Le Pen |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| France's Jean-Marie Le Pen has been expelled from the far-right National Front (FN) following a feud with daughter and party leader Marine. | France's Jean-Marie Le Pen has been expelled from the far-right National Front (FN) following a feud with daughter and party leader Marine. |
| Mr Le Pen, who was honorary president, was dismissed after a three-hour extraordinary party congress. | Mr Le Pen, who was honorary president, was dismissed after a three-hour extraordinary party congress. |
| He was initially suspended back in May, after he repeated his view that the Holocaust was "a detail of history". | He was initially suspended back in May, after he repeated his view that the Holocaust was "a detail of history". |
| Ms Le Pen took over as leader in 2011 and has tried to steer the party away from its racist and anti-Semitic past. | Ms Le Pen took over as leader in 2011 and has tried to steer the party away from its racist and anti-Semitic past. |
| The National Front (FN) was founded by Mr Le Pen in 1972. The 86-year-old still holds a seat in the European Parliament and a post as a regional councillor in the south of France. | The National Front (FN) was founded by Mr Le Pen in 1972. The 86-year-old still holds a seat in the European Parliament and a post as a regional councillor in the south of France. |
| Inflammatory remarks | |
| Mr Le Pen launched a legal challenge against his suspension, and on 2 July, a court decided to overturn it. | |
| The judge ruled that the correct procedure had not been followed and ordered that an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) be held to discuss his future. | |
| That meeting took place on Thursday, and Mr Le Pen has now been expelled. | |
| His dismissal follows a series of remarks regarded as inflammatory and a feud with his daughter. | |
| Earlier this year he restated his characterisation of the Holocaust as a "detail" - a view he first expressed in 1987 - and also said he had never considered France's wartime collaborationist leader Philippe Petain a traitor. | Earlier this year he restated his characterisation of the Holocaust as a "detail" - a view he first expressed in 1987 - and also said he had never considered France's wartime collaborationist leader Philippe Petain a traitor. |
| Ms Le Pen has said in the past that her father should "no longer be able to speak in the name of the National Front". | Ms Le Pen has said in the past that her father should "no longer be able to speak in the name of the National Front". |
| Jean-Marie Le Pen: A career in controversy | |
| A family feud on the French far-right | |
| Le Pen family feud in quotes | |
| From 'untouchables' to EU force |