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13:29  WORLD:  Le Pen's daughter hopes to succeed himview list
02/11/09

Far-right French leader Jean-Marie Le Pen’s daughter today announced she will attempt to succeed her father as head of the National Front party.

Marine Le Pen, the party’s vice president, said her father’s successor will probably be chosen at the next party congress next year.

She said whoever is chosen will be the National Front’s candidate in 2012 presidential elections.

Jean-Marie Le Pen shocked France in 2003 by qualifying for the second round of the presidential race.

Voters put off by his extremist, anti-immigrant views rallied behind conservative incumbent Jacques Chirac, handing him a landslide victory in the runoff.