Jean-Marie Le Pen sues Madonna’s ex boyfriend for taking a selfie of the pair which the National Front founder says cost him an election 

  • Jean-Marie Le Pen is taking Madonna's ex boyfriend to court for taking an unflattering selfie 
  • Professional dancer, Brahim Zaibat, 29, shared the snap on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram urging voters to 'give them a knock-out blow' 
  • Mr Le Pen said the photo harmed his public image and contributed to the defeat of the party in the December elections
  • He is requesting a full written apology and around £40,000 

By Peter Allen for MailOnline

Published: 20:55 EST, 11 January 2016 | Updated: 22:13 EST, 11 January 2016

French National Front founder Jean-Marie Le Pen is taking Madonna's ex boyfriend to court - for taking an unflattering selfie of the pair which led to defeat in key elections.

Mr Le Pen, now 87, was fast asleep on a plane when fellow Frenchman, Brahim Zaibat, 29, snapped him on the flight.

Mr Zaibat, a professional dancer who dated the queen of pop for three years, then shared the snap on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

Brahim Zaibat (left) is wearing headphones as he takes a selfie with Mr Le Pen who is suing him for taking the unflattering photo and posting it to social media 

Brahim Zaibat (left) is wearing headphones as he takes a selfie with Mr Le Pen who is suing him for taking the unflattering photo and posting it to social media 

Madonna arrives at Heathrow Airport with boyfriend Brahim and her sons Rocco and David Banda in 2011

Madonna arrives at Heathrow Airport with boyfriend Brahim and her sons Rocco and David Banda in 2011

It shows Mr Zaibat wearing a set of headphones and smiling broadly as he sits behind the politician, who has his eyes shut and mouth open. 

Mr Zaibat then urged voters not to back Mr Le Pen's far right National Front (NF) party in the second round of regional elections in December.

'Let's all vote tomorrow to give them a knock-out blow, to preserve our brotherly France' wrote Mr Zaibat, whose father comes from a North African immigrant background.

Mr Le Pen's party, which is now led by his daughter, Marine Le Pen, constantly campaigns against immigration, especially from former French African colonies such as Algeria.

Zaibat, 29, is a professional dancer who dated the queen of pop Madonna, pictured above, for three years

Zaibat, 29, is a professional dancer who dated the queen of pop Madonna, pictured above, for three years

The next day the NF failed to win a single region in the elections, despite being ahead in six out of 13.

Mr Le Pen said the photo harmed his public image, and contributed to the defeat of the party in the elections.

According to France's Public magazine, Mr Le Pen is asking for a full written apology from Mr Zaibat, and around £40,000.

According to France's Public magazine, Mr Le Pen will sue Mr Zaibat for an additional £8,000 for every day that goes by until he pays up

According to France's Public magazine, Mr Le Pen will sue Mr Zaibat for an additional £8,000 for every day that goes by until he pays up

If Mr Zaibat fails to comply, then Mr Le Pen will sue him for a further £8,000 for every day that goes by until he apologises and pays up.

The court case will be heard in a civil court in Paris on January 22nd, with both men free to attend if they want to.

Mr Le Pen is a convicted racist and anti-Semite who has often complained about the number of people with foreign backgrounds in France.

He was officially expelled from the party last year because of his extreme views about the Nazi Holocaust, but remains an NF affiliated MEP.

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