BBC News | Le Pen: A Life in pictures

Although his party remained on the fringes, some analysts believed Le Pen was instrumental in the 1997 election victory of Lionel Jospin.

Mr Jospin's moderate right-wing opponents saw their support split after Le Pen ordered National Front candidates to remain in the second round of voting - even though they had no chance of winning.

	Influential outsider		Le Pen addresses National Front convention, 1997
	Although his party remained on the fringes, some analysts believed Le Pen was instrumental in the 1997 election victory of Lionel Jospin. Mr Jospin's moderate right-wing opponents saw their support split after Le Pen ordered National Front candidates to remain in the second round of voting - even though they had no chance of winning.		Le Pen addresses National Front convention, 1997