Paris, France – French Prime Minister François Bayrou is facing a heartbreaking revelation from his eldest daughter, Hélène Perlant, who has come forward with allegations of abuse at a Roman Catholic school. Perlant, now 53, claims that she was beaten by a priest at Notre-Dame de Bétharram when she was just 14 years old. The accusations of abuse at the school have shed light on a dark history of physical and sexual abuse spanning decades, drawing increasing attention to Bayrou, who was a local MP and education minister at the time.
Bayrou, 73, has vehemently denied any knowledge of the abuse that Perlant and other pupils allegedly faced from the 1950s to 2010. Despite sending three of his own children to the boarding school, including Perlant, Bayrou insists he was unaware of the abuse. Perlant, in a recent interview with Paris Match, revealed the traumatic incident of being dragged, punched, and kicked by a priest, leaving her in a state of fear and silence for 30 years. She described Bétharram as a place where psychological pressure silenced victims and witnesses alike.
Notre-Dame de Bétharram, renamed as Le Beau Rameau in 2009, is a school located in Bayrou’s longtime stronghold in southwest France, where he also served as mayor of Pau. The revelations of abuse at the school have not only tarnished Bayrou’s name but have also placed pressure on his leadership as prime minister. Allegations of abuse first surfaced in the 1990s, but investigations at the time failed to substantiate the claims, dismissing them as isolated incidents.
Hélène Perlant’s courage in speaking out has brought attention to a broader issue of abuse within the school, with over 200 complaints filed by alleged victims. Bayrou finds himself caught in a precarious position, balancing his role as a father with his responsibilities as a public official. While he expresses anguish over the revelations of abuse, he remains steadfast in his commitment to prioritizing the needs of the victims.
The scandal surrounding Notre-Dame de Bétharram highlights a larger systemic problem within the Catholic Church and educational institutions that have enabled such abuse to persist unchecked. Despite the challenges facing his administration, Bayrou must navigate the fallout from these revelations and address the failures that allowed such atrocities to occur. As the prime minister of a fragile minority government, Bayrou’s ability to handle the crisis with transparency and accountability will be crucial in maintaining public trust and support.