France's far-right National Front party cuts ties with founder Le Pen
France's far-right National Front party has confirmed it has severed its ties to firebrand founder Jean-Marie Le Pen as it tries to revive its fortunes.
The party also re-elected his daughter Marine Le Pen to a new term as president at party congress where she was its only candidate for the post.
A new 100-member governing council was also named.
The party tweeted on Sunday that more than 79% of members who participated in a vote approved new party statutes that included abolishing Mr Le Pen's position of party president for life.
Vote des nouveaux statuts du Front National : @JFJalkh annonce que 79,67% des adhérents ont voté pour ! #CongrèsFN2018 pic.twitter.com/RfWrqTN5aG
— Rassemblement National (@RNational_off) March 11, 2018
The party expelled him in 2015 over anti-Semitic remarks but he kept the honorary position.
Sunday's vote is a crushing blow for the 89-year-old, who founded the party in 1972 and was runner-up in the 2002 French presidential election.
