Former French First Lady Bernadette Chirac Dies at 93
Bernadette Chirac, France's First Lady from 1995-2007, dies at 93 in Paris.
Event / Society
Bernadette Chirac Death
Bernadette Chirac, wife of former French President Jacques Chirac and First Lady from 1995-2007, died on June 5, 2026, at age 93 in Paris. She was known for her humanitarian work, particularly the Pièces Jaunes charitable campaign supporting hospitalized children.
4 reported locations
Daily activity
0 articles0 articles
2026-08-16 to 2026-11-13 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 6 Jun, 11:45 UTC
Follow the documented timeline or explore the related reporting.
What happened
Jacques Chirac became president of France
Jacques Chirac became president of France in 1995, beginning a period in which Bernadette Chirac served as first lady and wielded significant influence over political matters at the Élysée.
Jacques Chirac died
Jacques Chirac, former president of France and husband of Bernadette Chirac, died in 2019. By the time of his death, Bernadette was too fragile to participate in the public farewell ceremony where France and foreign leaders honored him.
Catherine Deneuve portrayed Bernadette Chirac in film
French actress Catherine Deneuve played Bernadette Chirac in the 2023 comic movie 'Bernadette,' which depicted her years at the Élysée Palace.
Jacques Chirac left the Élysée Palace
Jacques Chirac left office as president in 2007 after serving two terms. After leaving the presidency, his health declined and his public voice faded.
Laurence Chirac died following severe anorexia
Laurence Chirac, the elder daughter of Jacques and Bernadette Chirac, died in 2016 at age 58. She had developed severe anorexia following meningitis in adolescence and attempted suicide more than once, never fully recovering from her illness.
Bernadette Chirac married Jacques Chirac
Bernadette Chirac married Jacques Chirac in March 1956. The union lasted 63 years until Jacques Chirac's death in 2019.
Bernadette Chirac elected municipal councilor in Sarran
Bernadette Chirac was elected municipal councilor in Sarran in 1971, beginning her independent political career in rural Corrèze while her husband pursued power in Paris.
Bernadette Chirac became general councilor in Corrèze
In 1979, Bernadette Chirac became a general councilor in Corrèze and held the seat until 2015, establishing herself as a political force independent of her husband's national prominence.
Bernadette Chirac, former French first lady, dies at age 93
Bernadette Chirac, who served as first lady of France from 1995 to 2007 during President Jacques Chirac's presidency, died on Saturday at age 93. President Emmanuel Macron confirmed her death, expressing sadness at the passing of a woman who marked French history and changed millions of lives through her charitable work.
Bernadette Chirac took control of children's hospital charity
In 1994, Bernadette Chirac took over a medical charity that collected coins to support children in hospitals. She continued running the organization until 2019, when she handed it to Brigitte Macron and became honorary president.
Bernadette Chirac published memoir 'Conversation'
Bernadette Chirac published her memoir 'Conversation' in 2001, written with journalist Patrick de Carolis. The book sold hundreds of thousands of copies and presented a franker, funnier, and more independent portrayal of the former first lady than the public had previously known.
Bernadette Chirac married Jacques Chirac in 1956
Bernadette Chodron de Courcel married Jacques Chirac in March 1956. The couple met in 1951 at a ball organized by the École Nationale de l'Administration (ENA). According to Bernadette, their marriage was described as 'a marriage of ambition' rather than one based on love. She left her studies at Sciences Po to support her husband's political career.
Jacques and Bernadette Chirac welcome Vietnamese refugee Anh Đào into their home
Jacques and Bernadette Chirac welcomed Anh Đào, a young Vietnamese refugee, into their home after she arrived at Roissy airport in 1979 at age 21. Jacques Chirac, then Mayor of Paris, decided to offer her shelter. Anh Đào lived with the Chirac family for two years, learning French and completing her education with their support.
Bernadette Chirac became general councillor in Corrèze in 1979
Bernadette Chirac became a general councillor (conseillère générale) in Corrèze in 1979. She was initially a municipal councillor before this promotion. She was continuously re-elected in every cantonal election until 2011. Her political work in Corrèze helped establish her husband's local anchorage in the region after Prime Minister Georges Pompidou encouraged Jacques Chirac to run for parliament there in the 1960s.
Anh Đào marries, with Jacques Chirac presiding over ceremony on June 27, 1981
Anh Đào married on June 27, 1981. Jacques Chirac officiated the wedding ceremony. Bernadette Chirac provided the wedding dress. From this first marriage, Anh Đào had three children: Bernard, Laurence, and Jacques.
Claude Chirac becomes father's communications adviser and political strategist
Claude Chirac, born in 1962 in Paris, became her father Jacques Chirac's communications adviser and political strategist. She was one of the most influential family members and accompanied her father through his political campaigns and presidency. She held significant influence over her father, which sometimes created tensions with her mother Bernadette. After Jacques Chirac's death in 2019, Claude became the guardian of the family's legacy and announced her mother's death in June 2026.
Bernadette Chirac steps down as Pièces Jaunes president in 2018
Bernadette Chirac ceased her participation in the Pièces Jaunes operation in 2018. She transferred the presidency of the Foundation for Paris Hospitals to Brigitte Macron in 2019.
Bernadette Chirac born May 18, 1933 in Paris to prominent bourgeois family
Bernadette Chodron de Courcel was born on May 18, 1933, in the 16th arrondissement of Paris. She was born into France's upper bourgeoisie. Her father Jean-Louis Chodron de Courcel was a commercial director for ceramic manufactures 'Jean-Félix Bapterosses et Cie'. She was educated at the prestigious Institut de l'Assomption in Paris and later attended Sciences Po.
Bernadette Chirac becomes president of Hospital Foundation in 1994
In 1994, Bernadette Chirac became president of the Foundation for Paris Hospitals (Fondation des hôpitaux de Paris). She used her position and public visibility to promote the 'Pièces Jaunes' (Yellow Coins) fundraising campaign, which provided funding for hospital improvements benefiting hospitalized children. She recruited celebrity sponsors including judoka David Douillet and singer Lorie to increase visibility for the charity.
Laurence Chirac suffers meningitis and anorexia, dies in 2016 at age 58
Laurence Chirac, born in 1958, was the eldest daughter of Jacques and Bernadette Chirac. In her adolescence, a severe case of meningitis caused significant complications and triggered mental anorexia from which she never fully recovered. She experienced multiple suicide attempts and long periods of suffering. In 1990, she was severely injured after jumping from her Paris apartment. Laurence died in Paris in 2016 at age 58.
Read the coverage
2 alternative perspectives
From local politics to national prominence: Chirac's political ascent
Chirac progressed from local elected office to institutional leadership during her husband's presidency.
Children's struggles shaped Chiracs' private world beyond public prominence
Chirac family faced personal health crises including a son's death from meningitis and anorexia in 2016.
Vietnamese refugee welcomed by Chiracs builds life in Paris
Vietnamese refugee Anh Đào, welcomed by the Chiracs in 1979, reconciled with the family after decades of distance.
Chirac championed healthcare access and adolescent mental health throughout career
Chirac spent decades advancing healthcare access and youth mental health through hospital leadership and charitable foundations.
Bernadette Chirac, France's First Lady for 12 years, dies at 93
Bernadette Chirac, France's First Lady for 12 years, has died at age 93.