Sexual Abuse Scandal at French Catholic School: Prime Minister François Bayrou Under Fire
The daughter of French Prime Minister François Bayrou, Hélène Perlant, has revealed shocking details about her experience of violence at a private Catholic school, Notre-Dame de Bétharram, which is now at the center of a growing sexual abuse scandal. In an interview with Paris Match, the 53-year-old accused a senior priest of brutally beating her during a summer camp in the 1980s when she was only 14. Despite the severity of the incident, Perlant stated that she never disclosed the abuse to her father, who has held various political positions in the area, including serving as education minister.
The Bétharram scandal has escalated over the past several months, prompting scrutiny of Prime Minister Bayrou’s role and knowledge regarding decades of alleged abuse within the institution. Critics are raising questions about whether he was aware of the widespread violence and sexual abuse at the school and failed to take action. Bayrou has denied any prior knowledge of such allegations, despite having three children who attended the school and a spouse who taught there.
Perlant, whose story will be published in an upcoming book featuring accounts from other survivors, described a harrowing experience of being dragged across the floor by a priest named Father Lartiguet, who physically assaulted her. She depicted Bétharram as an environment that operated under a totalitarian regime, where psychological pressure silenced both students and teachers.
Over 200 legal complaints have reportedly been filed since last February, accusing priests and staff at Bétharram of physical and sexual abuse dating from 1957 to 2004. Among these, 90 complaints specifically allege instances of sexual violence, including a claim of group rape by two priests. Some complaints have unfortunately surpassed the statute of limitations for prosecution, complicating potential legal action against the alleged perpetrators.
In a heated debate within parliament, left-wing lawmakers accused Bayrou of being aware of widespread abuse as early as the 1990s when he was actively involved in local politics and education. MP Paul Vannier from the leftist party France Unbowed challenged Bayrou, suggesting, "Prime minister, you lied to MPs to hide your knowledge of violence against children which your responsibilities at the time meant you should have denounced."
Bayrou vehemently refuted these claims, maintaining that he was never informed about any incidents involving violence or sexual abuse at the school. He described the accusations against him as an "artificial controversy." However, recent testimonies presented to a parliamentary commission appear to contradict his statements, with two witnesses stating they had previously informed Bayrou about allegations regarding the school.
Alain Hontangs, an investigator, testified that in 1998 he was made aware of a rape allegation against a priest who was the school principal at the time. He claimed a judge informed him that the investigation was being stalled due to interference from Bayrou, who was then president of the local council. Judge Christian Mirande corroborated Hontangs' account but could not recall discussing the matter with him.
Despite these serious accusations, Prime Minister Bayrou continues to assert his innocence and insists he had no involvement in any legal case associated with the allegations. He is scheduled to appear before the parliamentary commission on May 14 to further clarify his position amidst the ongoing scandal that has left a lasting impact on the community and the victims of abuse.
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