A week after her death, France bids farewell to Bernadette Chirac. The former First Lady, who passed away on June 5 at the age of 93, will first be buried in Paris. Afterwards, several commemorations will take place in Corrèze, the region that shaped her political life for decades and with which her name remains inextricably linked.
Funeral service in Paris with prominent guests
The central funeral service takes place in the Basilique Sainte-Clotilde in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. This location holds special symbolic meaning for the Chirac family. In the nearby Sainte-Clotilde chapel, Bernadette Chodron de Courcel and Jacques Chirac were married in 1956. Additionally, the funeral service for their eldest daughter Laurence was held there in 2016.
Among the expected guests are numerous political companions and well-known public figures. They include former heads of state Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande. Actress Line Renaud and Brigitte Macron are also expected. The latter took over the chairmanship of the Fondation des Hôpitaux after Bernadette Chirac, with whom the deceased was closely connected for many years.
Corrèze as a political and personal center
After the ceremony in Paris, the focus shifts to Corrèze. Further commemorative activities are planned for the weekend there. A religious service in the municipality of Corrèze will be combined with a public tribute at the Domaine de Sédières. The family wishes to offer the residents of the region the opportunity to say goodbye personally.
The choice of this location is no coincidence. The Corrèze was for decades the political stronghold of the Chirac couple. While Jacques Chirac built his national career there, Bernadette Chirac also developed her own political identity and enjoyed broad support among the population.
More than the wife by the president’s side
Although she was often seen in public opinion as the wife of Jacques Chirac, Bernadette Chirac left her own political legacy. For more than three decades she was a general councilor of the Corrèze and thus an exceptional phenomenon among French First Ladies.
Her commitment to the “Pièces Jaunes” campaign, which raised funds for children’s hospitals, was particularly lasting. Through this initiative, she gained wide recognition and popularity across political parties.
With the memorial services in Paris and the Corrèze, a chapter of French political history closes. Bernadette Chirac stood for loyalty, perseverance, and political influence in an era closely linked to the name Chirac. Her passing marks the farewell of one of the most well-known personalities of the Fifth Republic.
Author: P. Tiko