French Prime Minister François Bayrou is set to testify before a parliamentary committee on Wednesday in connection with a widening child abuse scandal at a Catholic school in southwestern France. The hearing represents a critical juncture in Bayrou’s five-month tenure, as political pressure mounts over his alleged knowledge of decades-long abuse at the Notre-Dame de Betharram school.
Bayrou, who served as education minister from 1993 to 1997, has been accused of turning a blind eye to physical and sexual abuse committed by clergy and staff at the school near Pau, where he has served as mayor since 2014. He has vigorously denied any wrongdoing and condemned the investigation as a “campaign of destruction” aimed at tarnishing his reputation.
“I will use this opportunity to prove that all this is false,” Bayrou said ahead of the hearing.
The 73-year-old centrist, appointed by President Emmanuel Macron last December, has been tasked with steering France through political and economic instability. While he has survived multiple no-confidence votes in a divided parliament, the Betharram scandal has dealt a serious blow to his credibility. A recent poll showed his approval rating has slipped below Macron’s for the first time, with only 27 percent support among the public.
Political observers suggest that while the scandal alone may not topple Bayrou, it could weaken his standing significantly, potentially prompting coalition partners to withdraw support. “If he lies before parliament, he’s dead politically,” a Macron ally warned.
Bayrou’s daughter, Hélène Perlant, recently alleged she was beaten by a priest during a summer camp in the 1980s but maintained that her father was unaware of the incident. However, other testimony contradicts Bayrou’s claims of ignorance, and opposition lawmakers have accused him of perjury.
The inquiry, focused on state mechanisms to prevent school violence, has gathered testimony from victims and former officials. Over 200 legal complaints have been filed against Betharram clergy for abuse spanning nearly five decades. Final conclusions from the committee are expected in late June.
