The lawns of the Élysée gardens are crowded with people. After the traditional military parade, four thousand young people were invited, on July 14, 1995, to participate in a garden party within the grounds of the presidential palace. Jacques Chirac, elected on May 7, is attacked from all sides. He happily lends himself to the crowd, shakes hands in handfuls and signs autographs one after the other. The Head of State then receives 24 people, representing the French regions, for a large lunch, always under the eye of the cameras. Throughout the day, one absence stands out: Bernadette Chirac, the first lady, does not appear in the image. As is often the case during her husband’s irresistible political rise, she is relegated to the background. It was his own daughter, Claude, appointed communications advisor at the Élysée, who decided to oust him. Too uptight, too old-fashioned, too old-fashioned, Bernadette Chirac would harm the image of youth and vigor that she wants for her president father.
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