French Far-right Anoints Candidates Amid Party Crisis That Forced Founding Father From Running

French far right symbol Jean-Marie Le Pen announced Monday that he will not run in upcoming regional elections. The move follows party chief Marine Le Pen's refusal to back her father as a candidate in a key region in southern France. France's far-right National Front is meeting to anoint candidates for regional elections amid a party crisis that forced founder Jean-Marie Le Pen from running. Party president Marine Le Pen said on national television last week that she would oppose her father's candidacy after he made anti-Semitic remarks, repeating that the Nazi gas chambers were a "detail" in World War II history and praising Nazi collaborator Philippe Petain.
Le Pen's granddaughter, rising star Marion Le Pen, was assured of backing at Friday's meeting to replace him in the southern region in the December voting.