Adieu Le Pen

This Sunday the successor to Jean-Marie Le Pen, who has led the extreme right-wing part Front National (FN) for almost 40 years, will be announced. His daughter Marine is widely considered the favourite. The left-liberal daily Libération says farewell to the politician: "He's no doubt happy with himself. ... Jean-Marie Le Pen leaves the world of politics at the moment of his choosing, an elderly activist and veteran of hatred and in-fighting, as a people's leader who lives the life of a millionaire, the head of a party who has outlived all his rivals. ... Le Pen was undeniably successful at recycling the old Pétainist sentiment that lies lurking in the French unconsciousness. ... His anti-racist opponents were occasionally awkward in their manouevres. ... And Le Pen's success can for the most part be put down to the political leaders' inability to heal the ailments of the French and give the country a clear, identifiable direction."

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