Founder Of France's National Front Le Pen Excluded From Party

His daughter and party leader Marine Le Pen has been trying to oust him.
PARIS (AP) — Jean-Marie Le Pen, who co-founded France's far-right National Front, has been excluded from the party following a disciplinary hearing.



The decision was announced in a statement hours after the end of a three-hour hearing by the party's executive bureau, during which the 87-year-old Le Pen defended himself against a list of 15 complaints.

Party president Marine Le Pen, the elder's daughter, has been trying for months to oust her father, who held the title of honorary president for life.

A statement said the executive bureau "deliberated and decided ... the exclusion of Mr. Jean-Marie Le Pen as member of the National Front."

His lawyer, Frederic Joachim called the decision a "political assassination."