France - far right leader

Le Pen bows out of presidential race for good

Article published on the 2009-09-09 Latest update 2009-09-09 15:53 TU

Jean-Marie Le Pen with his daughter Marine, who may take over as National Front leader
(Photo: AFP)

The leader of France's far-right Natonal Front says he will not stand for the country's presidency again, after five unsuccessful attempts to win the country's top job. Le Pen made it into the second round against Jacques Chirac in 2002 but, at the age of 81, he says he is set to retire soon.

Le Pen broke the news on France 2 televison on Tuesday.

He still wants to head the party's list in regional elections in the Rhone-Alps, which should take place next year, but says that will be his last campaign.

That leaves a vacancy for the party's candidate in presidential elections set for 2012 and for its chief, since Le Pen says he will quit the leadership in 2010 or 2011.

His daughter, Marine, might step into her father's shoes, the veteran right-winger said. But he also named Bruno Gollnisch, the party's current Vice-President who has been a controversial lecturer at Lyons University, as a possible successor.

The National Front's fortunes have declined since the 2002 election, with Le Pen angrily accusing President Nicolas Sarkozy of stealing much of the party's programme.

The party won only 4.29 per cent of the vote in the 2007 legislative elections and has debts of nine million euros.