His longevity in politics and his five attempts to become President of France have made him a major figure in French political life. His progress to the second round in the 2002 presidential election left its mark on French public life and the "21st of April" is now a frequently used expression in France. A former Member of the European Parliament (MEP), he served as the Honorary President of the National Front from 2011 to 2015. He was expelled from the party by his daughter Marine Le Pen in 2015, after new controversial statements.