Bernadette Chirac, formidable French first lady dubbed ‘last queen of France’, dies at 93
AI Summary
Bernadette Chirac, widow of former French president Jacques Chirac and a significant political figure in her own right, died at age 93 on June 6, 2026. Beyond her role as first lady, she carved out an independent political career as an elected official in Corrèze and became widely known for founding the Pièces jaunes charitable initiative. She is remembered for her dignified endurance of her husband's infidelities and her evolution from a classical political spouse into a respected public figure.
Bernadette Chirac, the steel-willed former first lady of France who spent 12 years at the Elysee Palace from 1995 to 2007 beside President Jacques Chirac – weathering his notorious infidelities with dry humour while building her own political power base in rural France – has died. She was 93.
President Emmanuel Macron confirmed her death on Saturday, saying he and his wife Brigitte had learned with “great sadness” of the passing of a woman who marked French history, and changed the lives of...