Bernadette Chirac, the widow of former French President Jacques Chirac, has passed away at the age of 93. Her death was announced by her daughter, Claude Chirac, who stated that she died peacefully surrounded by her family.
Key points
- She served as a departmental councilor for Corrèze from 1979 to 2015, becoming the first French First Lady to hold a political mandate in her own name.
- She was widely recognized for her leadership of the Pièces Jaunes operation, a charitable initiative supporting hospitalized children.
- Born Bernadette Chodron de Courcel in 1933, she married Jacques Chirac in 1956 and supported his political career for over six decades.
- She was known for her active political engagement, including providing strategic advice to her husband during his presidency.
Why it matters
As a long-serving political figure and the spouse of a former president, Bernadette Chirac played a unique and influential role in French public life for several decades.
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