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Paris <\/em>\u2014 Jean-Marie Le Pen, the historic leader of France’s far-right political movement, died Tuesday at the age of 96, the French news agency AFP said, citing his family. Le Pen, who had been in a care facility for several weeks, died Tuesday “surrounded by his loved ones,” the family said in a statement.<\/p>\n His daughter Marine Le Pen is one of the most senior figures in the party, now called National Rally, which has seen its support surge in recent years. The current president of the party, which goes by the French acronym RN, Jordan Bardella, confirmed Le Pen’s death in a statement<\/a> posted Tuesday on social media.<\/p>\n “He always served France, defended its identity and its sovereignty,” said Bardella. “Today I think with sadness of his family, his loved ones, and of course of Marine whose mourning must be respected.” <\/p>\n