Bernadette Chirac, the widow of former French president Jacques Chirac, passed away at the age of 93, her daughter announced on Saturday. Claude Chirac confirmed that her mother died peacefully surrounded by family on Friday evening, just weeks after celebrating her 93rd birthday on May 18.
Bernadette Chirac was widely regarded as the steadfast companion of one of France's most prominent postwar leaders. Her husband, Jacques Chirac, served as president from 1995 to 2007 and was known for his opposition to the US-led invasion of Iraq. He died in 2019.
Despite her husband's notorious romantic affairs, Bernadette remained by his side, a subject both addressed in their memoirs. She carved her own path as the only French first lady to hold elected office, serving as a general councillor in the Correze department from 1979 to 2015.
Her elegance and discretion made her an icon. In 2023, actress Catherine Deneuve portrayed her in the film Bernadette, which focused on her years in the presidential palace.
President Emmanuel Macron paid tribute, calling her a "great woman of heart" who "left her mark on our history" and "changed so many lives with discretion and determination." He highlighted her work as head of a hospitals foundation, which impacted millions of anonymous patients.
