Le Pen's daughter to take over party

PARIS, April 13 (UPI) -- The daughter of French far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen plans to take over his National Front party.

Marine Le Pen, 41, said she was ready to succeed her father, after the 81-year-old announced he would stand down as leader of the far-right National Front and not run for president in 2012, BBC News reports.

Last month's regional elections in France saw a revival of the anti-immigrant National Front, which won double-digit support in most regions.

Jean-Marie Le Pen started the party in 1971 and was a surprisingly strong presidential candidate in 2002, losing to Jacques Chirac only in a run-off.

Marine Le Pen told French television Tuesday she wanted to make the National Front a "big popular party that addresses itself not only to the electorate on the right but to all the French."

She could be voted to lead the party in early 2011 when the National Front selected its new leadership.