Former French First Lady Bernadette Chirac dies at 93

Bernadette Chirac, the former French first lady and wife of the late President Jacques Chirac, has died at the age of 93. She was a constant presence by her husband's side for over half a century, navigating his political ascent from parliament to the presidency. During their 12 years in the Élysée Palace, from 1995 to 2007, she maintained a stoic demeanor, reportedly facing his infidelities with "phlegmatic humor" while cultivating her own political influence in provincial France.

President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte announced her death on Saturday, expressing "great sadness." Macron described her as a woman who "marked French history and changed the lives of millions through her charitable work." He fondly recalled her as "a great lady of the heart."

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A great lady of the heart has left.

Born Bernadette Chodron de Courcel into an aristocratic Catholic family, she met Jacques Chirac at Sciences Po. They married in 1956, embarking on a 63-year union that she once described as a "lesson in endurance." While Jacques was known for his warmth and energy, Bernadette was more reserved, socially imposing, and devout. Philosopher Jean Guitton famously called her "the last queen of France," a title she never rejected.

Chirac was not merely a presidential spouse; she carved out her own political path. From 1971, she served as a local councilor and later a general councilor until 2015. After Jacques Chirac's presidential election in 1995, her influence within the Élysée grew. She was recognized for her dedication and understanding of political power, actively promoting women's presence in a male-dominated political landscape and refusing to be confined to the role of "the president's wife." In 1994, she took the helm of a charity focused on fundraising, a testament to her commitment to humanitarian causes.

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In the beginning it was difficult. I was very hurt, and then I got used to it. I told myself that this is how things were and that I had to accept it with as much dignity as possible.