One week after her passing, France bids farewell to Bernadette Chirac. The former First Lady, who passed away at the age of 93 on June 5, will first be buried in Paris. Afterwards, further memorial services will be held in the Corrèze department, which shaped her political life for decades and with which her name is inseparably linked.
Memorial service in Paris attended by prominent guests
The central memorial ceremony will take place at the Sainte-Clotilde Cathedral in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. This location holds special symbolic meaning for the Chirac family. Nearby, Bernadette Codron de Courcel and Jacques Chirac were married in the Sainte-Clotilde Chapel in 1956, and in 2016, the funeral of their eldest daughter Laurence was also held here.
Expected attendees include many political colleagues and public figures. Among them are former presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande. Actresses Reine Renault and Brigitte Macron are also scheduled to attend. The latter succeeded Bernadette Chirac as president of the hospital foundation “Fondation des Hôpitaux,” which the late First Lady was deeply involved with for many years.
Corrèze department as a political and personal center
After the ceremony in Paris, attention shifts to the Corrèze department. Further memorial events are planned for the weekend. In addition to a religious ceremony at the commune’s church, there will also be a public tribute at the Domaine de Sédier. The family intends to offer local residents a direct opportunity to say goodbye.
The choice of this location is no coincidence. The Corrèze department has long been the political base of the Chirac couple. Just as Jacques Chirac built his national career here, Bernadette Chirac also established her own political identity and garnered strong support from the residents.
More than just the president’s wife
Although she was often publicly recognized as the wife of Jacques Chirac, Bernadette Chirac left her own political legacy. She served as a general councillor for the Corrèze department for over 30 years and was an exceptional figure among France’s first ladies.
Her sustained commitment to the “Pièces Jaunes” campaign had a lasting impact. This initiative collects donations for children’s hospitals and was widely acknowledged and popular beyond political affiliations.
With the memorial services in Paris and Corrèze, a chapter of French political history comes to a close. Bernadette Chirac embodied loyalty, patience, and political influence, symbolizing an era closely linked to the name Chirac. Her death marks a farewell to one of the most prominent figures of the Fifth Republic.
Author: P. Tiko