Funeral of Bernadette Chirac in Paris with Numerous Political Figures

Paris – 06/12/2026: On June 12, 2026, numerous political and public figures gathered at the Basilica of Sainte-Clotilde in Paris to pay their last respects to the late Bernadette Chirac. The widow of former president Jacques Chirac had passed away on June 5, 2026, at the age of 93.

The Basilica of Sainte-Clotilde, a place of great personal significance for the Chirac family, was the site of the ceremony. Bernadette and Jacques Chirac had married there in 1956, and it was also where their daughter Laurence’s funeral was held in 2016.

Among those present were numerous prominent figures from politics and public life. Brigitte Macron, wife of the current president Emmanuel Macron, attended, as did Carla Bruni, wife of Nicolas Sarkozy, and Julie Gayet, partner of François Hollande. Also present was Anne-Aymone Giscard d’Estaing, widow of former President Valéry Giscard d’Estaing, along with international guests such as Farah Diba, widow of the former Shah of Iran.

The ceremony was accompanied by a personal address from Martin Rey-Chirac, the grandson of Bernadette Chirac. He recalled his grandmother’s lively personality and emphasized her humor and peculiarities. The sermon by Canon Patrice Sicard highlighted the religious aspects without touching on the political significance of Bernadette Chirac.

After the ceremony, the coffin draped with a tricolor was carried out of the basilica, with attendees and the public paying a final tribute. Bernadette Chirac, the only First Lady of France to hold an elected office herself, leaves a lasting legacy in French politics.

The funeral of Bernadette Chirac marks the end of an era in French politics. Her active role and notable political statements shaped the political landscape for over three decades. With her passing, France loses a defining figure of the Fifth Republic.

The presence of numerous political figures at the funeral underscores the high regard Bernadette Chirac held in French society and politics. Her family, especially her daughter Claude Chirac and her grandson Martin Rey-Chirac, were at the center of the ceremony and received the condolences of those present.

The burial of Bernadette Chirac at the Basilica of Sainte-Clotilde in Paris was a dignified farewell to a woman who will be remembered not only as First Lady but also as a distinct political personality. Her commitment and striking political remarks will leave a lasting impression in the history of French politics.