Bernadette Chirac, the former first lady of France, has died at the age of 93. The widow of former President Jacques Chirac spent 12 years at the Élysée Palace from 1995 to 2007.
Known as a steely behind-the-scenes operator and the rock of her husband's political career, Chirac was an unfailing supporter of Jacques Chirac during his tenure as a two-term prime minister, 18 years as the mayor of Paris, and two terms as president. She was described as a loyal companion to one of France's key postwar politicians and a discreet force who weathered her husband's notorious infidelities with dry humor.
Beyond her support of her husband, Bernadette Chirac built her own political power base in rural France. She was elected to the Corrèze General Council and became a key figure on the political scene. She was also deeply involved in charitable work, turning a children's hospital charity into a national institution.