Jean-Marie Le Pen

Jean-Marie Le Pen (born 1928) is the leader of the nationalist National Front party and ran in the 2007 French presidential elections coming in fourth with 10.4% of the vote.

In 2002, he made international headlines by making it to the second round of the 2002 presidential elections.

Comments on the French riots of 2005

• Le Pen described the ... violence as "just the start" of conflicts caused by "massive immigration from countries of the Third World that is threatening not just France but the whole continent."

• Le Pen said people with immigrant backgrounds who commit crimes should be stripped of their French nationality and sent "back to their country of origin."

• French nationality should be given only to those who ask for it and "who are worthy of it," he said. "Those who got nationality automatically, who don't consider themselves French and who even say publicly that they consider France their enemy should not be treated as French."

• Le Pen said he is convinced that what he described as a surge in support for his "zero immigration" platform would translate into votes at the ballot box for his National Front party.