France's National Front founder says ashamed daughter bears his name

PanARMENIAN.Net - The founder of France's far-right National Front, Jean-Marie Le Pen, has decried the decision to suspend his membership in the party and the attempts to take away his title of honorary president for life, the Associated Press reports.

Twelve hours after the executive board announced his suspension, Jean-Marie Le Pen said Tuesday he's ashamed that his daughter, party president Marine Le Pen, bears his name. He suggested on Europe 1 radio that she marry her companion in order to change her name.

The running father-daughter feud escalated into a political crisis after the decision to suspend the senior Le Pen for reiterating anti-Semitic remarks that got him convicted in the past.

The 86-year-old Le Pen helped found the anti-immigration National Front party in 1972 and built it into a feared political force.