Former first lady of France Bernadette Chirac dies at 93

Article excerpt

Bernadette Chirac, the steel-willed former first lady of France who stood beside President Jacques Chirac during his twelve-year presidency from 1995 to 2007, has died at 93. A fixture at the Élysée Palace, she was known for her steadfast presence during a consequential period in modern French politics, when her husband navigated post-Cold War Europe and domestic reforms. The death of the long-serving first lady marks the end of a significant chapter in contemporary French political history.