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Bernadette Chirac, 93, First Lady and Charity Leader Dies

6/6/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Bernadette Chirac died at 93 in France, confirmed by daughter Claude and President Emmanuel Macron.
She was the only first lady to serve in elected office, on Corrèze’s council from 1979 to 2015.
She led the Pièces Jaunes charity, turning it into a campaign that funded hospitalized children until 2019.
Her 2001 memoir “Conversation” sold hundreds of thousands of copies and showed her as an independent political figure with humor.

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Story summary

Bernadette Chirac died at 93 in France, confirmed by daughter Claude and President Emmanuel Macron.
She was the only first lady to serve in elected office, on Corrèze’s council from 1979 to 2015.
She led the Pièces Jaunes charity, turning it into a campaign that funded hospitalized children until 2019.
Her 2001 memoir “Conversation” sold hundreds of thousands of copies and showed her as an independent political figure with humor.