A look back at French former first lady Bernadette Chirac's legacy

Article excerpt

Bernadette Chirac, who spent 12 years as France's first lady from 1995 to 2007 beside President Jacques Chirac, died at 93. Known for her steel will and dry humor in the face of her husband's well-documented infidelities, she built a formidable political power base in rural France during her tenure at the Élysée Palace. Rather than fade into ceremonial obscurity, she cultivated genuine influence in local governance and remained a significant figure in French political life.