Key facts
- Bernadette Chirac, former French first lady, has died at age 93.
- She served as first lady from 1995 to 2007 alongside President Jacques Chirac.
- President Emmanuel Macron confirmed her death on Saturday.
- Macron described her as a woman who marked French history.
Bernadette Chirac, who served as France's first lady for 12 years from 1995 to 2007 alongside her husband President Jacques Chirac, has died at the age of 93. Known for her strong will and dry humor, she navigated her husband's infidelities while cultivating her own political influence in rural France. President Emmanuel Macron announced her death on Saturday, expressing his and his wife Brigitte's "great sadness" and acknowledging her significant impact on French history.