Prime Minister Bayrou to appear in court over Catholic school sex abuse allegations
A Testy Time Awaits Bayrou as He Faces Scrutiny Over School Abuse Allegations
French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou is bracing for a tough interrogation on Wednesday as he faces questions from a parliamentary committee investigating decades of alleged sexual abuse at a Catholic school.
Bayrou, a former education minister in the mid-1990s, has been under fire from the opposition for failing to act on widespread physical and sexual abuse allegations at the Notre-Dame de Bétharram school in southwestern France, a town where he has been mayor since 2014.
The 73-year-old politician has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, dismissing the accusations as a malicious attempt to ruin his reputation. On Monday, a father of one of the victims accused him of lying, claiming the affair was hindering his political rise.
The victims have shared harrowing accounts of the abuse, describing nighttime visits from some priests and the painful repercussions the abuse has had on their lives. "The state has failed, and it hasn't protected the children of Bétharram," said Alain Esquerre, who represents a collective of school survivors.
The upcoming hearing is expected to add further pressure on Bayrou. Political analysts have warned that his performance will be closely watched as he attempts to prove his innocence. "The Bétharram school scandal may not be sufficient in itself to bring down Bayrou, but it could embolden his parliamentary enemies to topple the government for other reasons," said the Eurasia Group.
Bayrou has been giving the task of leading France out of a month-long political crisis, a role which he has managed to retain despite several no-confidence votes in a divided parliament. However, his approval rating has been steadily declining in recent weeks, with only 27% of French people approving of his job performance.
"If he lies before parliament, he's dead" politically, said a senior supporter of President Emmanuel Macron, who asked to remain anonymous.
Bayrou's daughter, Helene Perlant, revealed in April that she was a victim of physical violence at the school while her father was a local official. Despite this, Bayrou maintains that he was unaware of any sexual abuse allegations during the time in question.
The inquiry focuses on the methods used by the state to monitor and prevent violence in schools, but the spotlight is squarely on Bayrou as he prepares to testify under oath. After the hearing, the two co-rapporteurs of the commission will deliver their conclusions in late June.
The scandal at Bétharram school has descended into a heated battle for credibility, with some accusing Bayrou of perjury, while Bayrou's associates claim he is not the subject of the inquiry. Regardless, the allegations have left a deep stain on Bayrou's reputation, and the results of the forthcoming investigation will determine his political future.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
Insight: The Notre-Dame de Bétharram school scandal has put Bayrou under immense pressure due to allegations of wide-ranging abuse, including sexual violence and physical attacks, that took place on the school's premises between 1957 and 2004. Bayrou's daughter, Hélène Perlant, publicly admitted that she was a victim of physical violence at the school in 1987. Despite earlier statements that he had no knowledge of abuse accusations prior to the scandal, Bayrou is now under examination to provide a full account of any prior knowledge he may have had about the allegations during his tenure as education minister (1993-1997) and as a local official.
- The Notre-Dame de Bétharram school scandal has prompted a parliamentary investigation, focusing on methods used by the state to monitor and prevent violence in schools, but the spotlight is squarely on French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou, who served as education minister in the mid-1990s.
- Tuesday's hearing promises to be a significant test for Bayrou, particularly in the realm of policy and legislation, as he attempts to prove his innocence amidst accusations of failing to act on widespread sexual abuse allegations during his tenure.
- The fallout from the Bétharram school scandal extends beyond just politics, with general news outlets reporting on the harrowing accounts shared by victims, highlighting the impact of sexual-health and mental-health issues on their lives.
- The ongoing investigation carries substantial implications for Bayrou's political future, with political analysts suggesting that his performance during the interrogation could potentially embolden his parliamentary enemies to take actions that may topple the government, entangling science, crime, and justice in the political turmoil.
