Jean-Marie Le Pen is to sue a French dancer for €50,000 (NZ$83,000) in damages for an unflattering selfie taken on a plane.

The photograph was taken by Brahim Zaibat, an ex-boyfriend of Madonna, who is a dancer, choreographer and former winner of the French version of Strictly Come Dancing.

Zaibat was seated behind the far-right firebrand, who was recently ousted as the FN's honorary president by his daughter and successor, Marine. In the photo, the former far-right Front National (FN) leader can be seen snoozing, open-mouthed while on a domestic flight, while the dancer grins, wide-eyed. He shared the photo on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, calling on followers and the public at large to vote against the FN in the second round of December's regional elections. Polls suggested the far-right was poised to win up to four of 12 regions.

"Let's all vote tomorrow to give them a knockout blow. To preserve our fraternal France," read the text posted by the dancer, which notched up tens of thousands of "likes". The next day, the FN failed to win a single region.

Zaibat admitted he had taken the photo two months previously and had timed its release for maximum effect.

Furious, Le Pen said the photo "harmed his image and was instrumental in the defeat of the party led by Marine", according to Public magazine.

He is claiming €50,000 (NZ$83,000) in damages and a written apology on social media. Failing that, he is demanding €10,000 for each day that Zaibat fails to say sorry after the ruling. "It's my private life and I want to protect myself against this type of behaviour," Le Pen told the rue89 website.

According to Public, Le Pen's complaint mentions Madonna, who said she might take legal action against the far-right ex-leader in response.
The $83,000 selfie: Jean-Marie Le Pen to sue Madonna's ex-partner Brahim Zaibat