the founder of the National Front seen in ten drawings from “Charlie Hebdo”

The historic leader of the National Front passed away on Tuesday, the same day as the tenth anniversary of the attack on “Charlie Hebdo” was commemorated.

Published on 07/01/2025 16:38

Updated on 07/01/2025 16:52

Reading time: 2min

“Charlie Hebdo” devoted numerous front pages to Jean-Marie Le Pen, whose ideas the newspaper never ceased to combat. (CHARLIE HEBDO / STEPHANIE BERLU / RADIO FRANCE)

An irony of history. Jean-Marie Le Pen died at 96 years Tuesday January 7, ten years to the day after the attack which targeted Charlie Hebdo. The satirical newspaper has always fought this historical figure of the French extreme right and his ideas through its front pages and its drawings. After January 7, 2015 and the attack which killed 15 people, including ten members of the newspaper's editorial staff, the founder of the FN declared “I'm sorry, I'm not Charlie.”. Franceinfo has selected ten caricatures from the weekly devoted to the sulphurous political personality.

On X, many subscribers react to the death of Jean-Marie Le Pen by posting images taken from Charlie Hebdo and messages which underline the absurdity of this concordance of times. “Le Pen died the same day as Cabu. Life definitely has more imagination than us”writes for example a subscriber. For another subscriber, “Jean-Marie Le Pen, it’s still and always Charlie Hebdo who talks about it best.”

1 In June 1995, the threat represented by the National Front under the pen of Cabu

A drawing of Cabu on the front page — A drawing by Cabu on the front page of “Charlie Hebdo” in June 1995. (CHARLIE HEBDO)

2 In March 1997, the anti-Semitism of Jean-Marie Le Pen caricatured by Willem

A drawing by Willem on the front page of “Charlie Hebdo” in March 1997. (CHARLIE HEBDO)

3 In December 1997, a reference to the phrase of Jean-Marie Le Pen for whom the Nazi concentration camps are “a detail of history”

The front page of Charlie Hebdo, drawn by Cabu, in March 1997 refers to the phrase by Jean-Marie Le Pen for whom the Nazi concentration camps are — The front page of Charlie Hebdo, designed by Cabu, in March 1997 refers to Jean-Marie Le Pen's phrase for whom the Nazi concentration camps are “a detail of history”. (CHARLIE HEBDO)

4 In December 1998, a drawing by Cabu dedicated to the National Front

In December 1998, the front page of “Charlie Hebdo” was devoted to the FN. (CHARLIE HEBDO)

5 In April 2002, the surprise second round of the presidential election seen by Cabu

In April 2002, the Chirac - Le Pen duel in the second round of the presidential election made the headlines. — In April 2002, the Chirac – Le Pen duel in the second round of the presidential election made the front page of “Charlie Hebdo” under the cover of Cabu. (CHARLIE HEBDO)

6 In April 2011, the demonization of the FN desired by Marine Le Pen

Marine le Pen's demonization of the FN as seen by “Charlie Hebdo” in April 2011. (CHARLIE HEBDO)

7 In March 2012, Jean-Marie Le Pen and the attack on Mohammed Merah during the presidential campaign

The attack on Mohammed Merah in 2012 in the middle of the presidential campaign on the front page of “Charlie Hebdo” under the pen of Luz. (CHARLIE HEBDO)

8 In January 2014, Le Pen father and daughter united in a drawing by Cabu

“Charlie Hebdo” devotes a special issue to the Le Pen father and daughter, in January 2014, written by Cabu. (CHARLIE HEBDO)

9 In December 2014, “we tried everything except smallpox” represents Marine, Jean-Marie and Marion Maréchal Le Pen

In December 2014, a “family drawing” by Cabu appeared on the front page of “Charlie Hebdo”. (CHARLIE HEBDO)

10 In February 2022, declining health mentioned in a drawing by Coco

A drawing of Coco in — A drawing by Coco in “Charlie Hebdo” in February 2022 evokes the declining health of Jean-Marie Le Pen. (CHARLIE HEBDO)

11 January 7, 2025: Charlie Hebdo “indestructible”

The front page of “Charlie Hebdo” on January 7, 2025, 10 years after the attacks. (CHARLIE HEBDO)

Ten years after the attacks of January 7, 2015 and 55 years after its creation, the “Charlie spirit” survives Jean-Marie Le Pen.