In 1972 he formed the French National Front, supporting immigrant repatriation and capital punishment; the party gained 14% of the national vote in the 1986 election. Le Pen was elected to the European Parliament 1984. Le Pen served as a paratrooper in French Indochina and Algeria during the 1950s. He became a right-wing National Assembly deputy 1956. During the 1960s, he was connected with the extremist Organisation de l'Armee Secrete (OAS), devoted to perpetuating French rule in Algeria. The National Front has considerable support among underprivileged white youth but Le Pen's openly fascist statements caused his bid for the presidency 1988 to founder. He again unsuccessfully contested the presidency 1995.
