In 2019, Jacques Chirac breathed his last at the age of 86. Many years after his death, there is no shortage of anecdotes about him. During his lifetime, the former head of state conquered the crowds with his strong personality. Bon vivant, the former tenant of the Élysée was also very seductive. Despite everything, in good times as in bad times, his wife Bernadette Chirac has always shown him unfailing support. But in 1975, the former president of the Fondation Hôpitaux de Paris – Hôpitaux de France – saw red.
Indeed, her husband then Prime Minister at the time did not hesitate to join his mistress to celebrate Christmas by his side. Without make-up, Jacques Chirac flew to Guyana and Guadeloupe ensuring that his trips were above all professional. “Around Jacques Chirac, there were a lot of journalists, and all the journalists were protecting Jacques Chirac from the connection he was supposed to have with one of the journalists who were there”, analyzed Jacques Toubon, a former politician’s adviser for France 2 in 2019.
For her part, Bernadette Chirac tried to look good. She also spent the holidays alone with their two children. Her rival is none other than journalist Jacqueline Chabridon. Her affair with Jacques Chirac began at the beginning of the 70s. Brought to realize her portrait for Le Figaro, the young woman quickly fell under his spell. “It all started when Jacques Chirac stopped in a restaurant to taste his traditional calf’s head, and challenged her to swallow a calf’s head like him, which she hastened to do”, analyzed Laureline Dupont, author of “Jacques et Jacqueline”, for the report “Bernadette and Jacques, the inseparable”, unveiled on BFMTV in 2019.
Being madly in love with the journalist, Jacques Chirac always brought out the heavy artillery to fill it at all the levels… thus abandoning his wife Bernadette. “He was capable of writing her fiery poems, of having the Pierre Cardin boutique open to offer her a sweater when she was cold one evening. Outbursts of the heart that he no longer had for his wife”, said Erwan L’Éléouet, author of “Bernadette Chirac, the secrets of a conquest”, for BFMTV.
However, Jacques Chirac never wanted to divorce … To the chagrin of his mistress. Their romance, however, lasted two years. Distraught, Jacqueline Chabridon even tried to end it after their breakup …
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