Bernadette Chirac, Former French First Lady, Dies

Bernadette Chirac, the formidable former first lady of France and widow of President Jacques Chirac, has died at 93.

She was known for her steel-willed demeanor and discreet political career, cultivating her own power base while enduring her husband's infidelities.

President Emmanuel Macron expressed 'profound sadness' at her passing, acknowledging her significant mark on French history and her charitable work.

Chirac's death marks the end of an era for a prominent political figure who shaped public life in France for decades.