Bernadette Chirac, the widow of former French president Jacques Chirac and the only woman to combine the role of first lady with an elected political mandate in her own right, has died at the age of 93. Her daughter, Claude Chirac, announced on Saturday that she “passed away peacefully surrounded by her family” on Friday evening, just weeks after celebrating her birthday on 18 May. President Emmanuel Macron led tributes, calling her a “great lady of the heart” who left an indelible mark on France through her quiet determination and charitable work.

Born Bernadette Chodron de Courcel into an aristocratic family, she met Jacques Chirac while studying at Sciences Po and married him in 1956. During his ascent to the presidency – which he held from 1995 to 2007 – she carved out her own political identity, serving continuously as general councillor for the Corrèze department from 1979 to 2015. Her tenure was unprecedented for a French first lady and reflected a steely independence often overshadowed by her husband’s larger-than-life personality. She endured his well-publicised infidelities with a dignity she later described as “submitting with as much dignity as possible,” a phrase that became emblematic of her public stoicism. Beyond politics, she dedicated herself to the Fondation des Hôpitaux de Paris, improving conditions for hospitalised children and the elderly.

Viewed from abroad, Bernadette Chirac was a figure of fascination and respect. Russian media recalled her multiple visits to the country during her husband’s presidency, where she was awarded the Pushkin Medal for promoting Russian language and culture. Spanish-language coverage highlighted her role as the “inseparable companion” of a man she loved deeply despite his flaws, while Arabic outlets emphasised her unique status as the only French first lady to hold elected office. The global tributes underscored a life that transcended the symbolic role of presidential spouse.

Her death marks the closing of a chapter in French public life. She outlived her husband, who died in 2019, and her elder daughter Laurence, whose troubled life remained a closely guarded secret. Only Claude survives today. Brigitte Macron, who succeeded her at the hospital foundation, said Bernadette “helped me a lot” and illuminated her path. In her final years, a woman once mocked for her Chanel suits and lacquered hair became a beloved figure, celebrated for her resilience and quiet authority. The near-unanimous homage from the political class – from left to right – signalled that, in death as in life, Bernadette Chirac had carved a singular place in the French story.