Bernadette Chirac, Widow of Former French President Jacques Chirac, Dies at 93

Bernadette Chirac, widow of former French president Jacques Chirac, died Friday evening at the age of 93. Her daughter Claude Chirac told AFP on Saturday that she had passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones. She had turned 93 on May 18.

Born Bernadette Chodron de Courcel on May 18, 1933, in Paris, she grew up in a family of diplomats in the 16th arrondissement. She met Jacques Chirac while studying at Sciences Po Paris and married him in 1956. They remained married for over 60 years.

She served continuously as a general councillor for the Corrèze department from 1979 to 2015. She was France's only first lady to have held political office in her own right. Jacques Chirac won the 1995 presidential election on his third attempt.

During his first term, Bernadette Chirac headed the Pièces Jaunes campaign to benefit hospitalised children and became popular with the French public. She was nicknamed "Bernie" and was considered more conservative than her husband. She spent 12 years at the Élysée Palace from 1995 to 2007.