FILE - In this Sunday Nov. 30, 2014 file photo, French far-right Front National leader Marine Le Pen is kissed by her father Jean-Marie Le Pen in Lyon, central France. A French court is to say Thursday Nov. 17, 2016 whether far-right leader Marine Le Pen must reinstate his father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, inside the party he founded after he was expelled for anti-Semitic comments that blurred her efforts to smooth her image as a presidential candidate. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani, File)
The Associated Press
PARIS (AP) - A French court is to say whether far-right leader Marine Le Pen must reinstate her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, inside the party he founded after he was expelled for anti-Semitic comments that hurt her reinvention as a presidential candidate.
The elder Le Pen has asked a civil court outside Paris to quash the party's decision that kicked him out of the National Front last year, saying its Marine-controlled leadership violated internal procedures. The ruling is expected Thursday.
The party expelled the far-right 88-year-old for referring to Nazi gas chambers as a "detail" of World War II history.
Marine Le Pen has distanced herself from her father's extremist views since taking over the National Front in 2011. She is a candidate for next spring's French presidential election.
Far-right leader Marine le Pen smiles as she inaugurates her campaign headquarters, Wednesday, Nov.16, 2016 in Paris. Le Pen is convinced that her anti-immigration, anti-Islam views can lead her to the presidency in five months. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
The Associated Press
Far-right leader Marine le Pen answers reporters as she inaugurates her campaign headquarters, Wednesday, Nov.16, 2016 in Paris. Le Pen is convinced that her anti-immigration, anti-Islam views can lead her to the presidency in five months. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
The Associated Press
Far-right leader Marine le Pen answers reporters as she inaugurates her campaign headquarters, Wednesday, Nov.16, 2016 in Paris. Le Pen is convinced that her anti-immigration, anti-Islam views can lead her to the presidency in five months. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
The Associated Press
Far-right leader Marine le Pen smiles as she inaugurates her campaign headquarters, Wednesday, Nov.16, 2016 in Paris. Le Pen is convinced that her anti-immigration, anti-Islam views can lead her to the presidency in five months. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
The Associated Press
Far-right leader Marine le Pen poses as she inaugurates her campaign headquarters, Wednesday, Nov.16, 2016 in Paris. Le Pen is convinced that her anti-immigration, anti-Islam views can lead her to the presidency in five months. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)
The Associated Press