French Prime Minister François Bayrou fiercely defended himself against claims he covered up child abuse at a Catholic school during a heated parliamentary hearing that has put his political future in jeopardy.

At a Glance

• Bayrou faced aggressive questioning about his knowledge of abuse at Notre-Dame de Bétharram school, where approximately 200 legal complaints have been filed for abuse from 1957 to 2004
• The Prime Minister insisted he only learned of sexual abuse allegations from media reports, not during his time as education minister (1993-1997)
• Bayrou’s own daughter reported abuse at the school but stated her father was unaware of the incident
• A former teacher claims she informed Bayrou of abuse in the 1990s, which he vehemently denies
• President Emmanuel Macron has expressed confidence in Bayrou despite the scandal damaging his approval ratings

Contentious Parliamentary Testimony

Under oath before French lawmakers, Prime Minister François Bayrou categorically denied prior knowledge of sexual abuse at Notre-Dame de Bétharram school during his tenure as education minister. The inquiry centers on the Catholic educational institution in southwestern France where Bayrou has served as mayor since 2014. The investigation has already documented approximately 200 legal complaints filed against priests and staff for abuse spanning almost five decades, from 1957 to 2004.

“I have evidently never, never ever, been informed of anything when it comes to violence, let alone sexual violence,” testified Bayrou during the contentious hearing that featured multiple interruptions and heated exchanges with parliamentary investigators.

Conflicting Testimonies

Bayrou’s defense has been complicated by conflicting accounts, including testimony from a former teacher who claims she informed him about abuse at the school in the 1990s. The Prime Minister has accused her of fabricating this testimony. Records show that in 1996, Bayrou did order an inspection of the school after a supervisor was found guilty of assaulting a student, suggesting some level of awareness of disciplinary issues at the institution.

“I didn’t lie, I never hid anything,” Bayrou insisted during his testimony, adding, “The only information I had was what was covered in the press.”

Severity of Allegations

The allegations against the school are severe and wide-ranging. Among the most serious cases, a priest accused of child rape committed suicide before legal proceedings were completed. Other reports detail extreme physical abuse, including leaving children outside in freezing temperatures resulting in frostbite. Over 200 people have provided testimony about abuse at the institution, including Bayrou’s own daughter, who reported experiencing physical mistreatment.

When pressed about disciplinary practices at the school, Bayrou acknowledged: “Were there methods that were a bit rough? Probably yes. Would they be accepted today? Probably not.”

Political Implications

The scandal has significantly damaged Bayrou’s political standing, with his approval ratings falling below those of President Emmanuel Macron. Despite the growing controversy, Macron has publicly backed his Prime Minister. “We have talked about it a lot and I know that I have confidence in him,” Macron stated, though reports suggest he may request Bayrou’s resignation if media pressure continues to escalate.

Bayrou has suggested the parliamentary inquiry itself is politically motivated, describing it as an attempt to “fuel a scandal” against him. The investigation into state methods for monitoring and preventing school violence is expected to reach conclusions in June, which could further impact Bayrou’s tenuous position within the French government.