Bernadette Chirac, Former French First Lady, Dies at 93

Bernadette Chirac, the widow of former French President Jacques Chirac, passed away on Friday at the age of 93, her daughter Claude Chirac announced on Saturday. She died peacefully in the afternoon, surrounded by her loved ones, shortly after celebrating her 93rd birthday on May 18. Born Bernadette Chodron de Courcel in Paris on May 18, 1933, she came from a diplomatic family and studied at the prestigious Sciences Po, where she met Jacques Chirac. They married in 1956. Chirac was the only first lady to hold elected office, serving as a regional representative for the Corrèze department from 1979 to 2015 without interruption. As Jacques Chirac's wife for over 60 years, she was a constant presence by his side throughout his political career, including his rise to the presidency in 1995. After her husband's re-election in 2002, Bernadette Chirac gained significant popularity among the French public, particularly for her campaign supporting hospitalized children. Current French President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute, calling her a "great lady" who shaped "the destiny of millions of anonymous patients through her intimate and constant commitment." Former President François Hollande praised her as a "tenacious woman" who asserted her "personality, ideas, and style in an environment not favorable to her," while ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy stated he had lost "a great friend."

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She passed away in the afternoon, peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones. She had just turned 93.