The steel-willed political figure spent 12 years at the Élysée Palace after Jacques Chirac was elected president in 1995, building a power base of her own.

Née Bernadette Chodron de Courcel, la veuve de l'ancien président Jacques Chirac est décédé vendredi soir

PARIS -- Bernadette Chirac, the widow of former French president Jacques Chirac, passed away on Friday evening at the age of 93, French media reported Saturday.