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Heart-Wrenching Story from Bétharram: "It Pierces My Heart," Says François Bayrou

Hélène Perlant publicly disclosed the physical abuse she suffered as a teen at a congregation-run summer camp similar to Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram, on Tuesday. The head of government acknowledged he'd never discussed this issue with her.

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Heart-Wrenching Story from Bétharram: "It Pierces My Heart," Says François Bayrou

French PM's Daughter Speaks Out: Abuse at Notre-Dame de Bétharram

In a shocking revelation, Hélène Perlant, the daughter of French Prime Minister François Bayrou, has exposed the harrowing physical abuse she faced in 1987 at the hands of a priest, during a summer camp at the Catholic school, Notre-Dame de Bétharram.

At the tender age of 14, Perlant was violently attacked, being "grabbed by the hair, dragged along the ground, and punched/kicked repeatedly," leaving her with brutal bruises and a permanent ringing in her ears, or tinnitus. The institution, in her words, resembled a "sect-like" system of control, where physical and psychological abuse has been alarmingly widespread since as early as the 1950s.

The Prime Minister has expressed his devastation over this situation, acknowledging that not only was he unaware of the abuse allegations when he served as education minister (1993–1997), but he also claims ignorance about his daughter's harrowing ordeal until her 2025 disclosure. This has not stopped opposition lawmakers from questioning his awareness, given his local prominence and three children attending Bétharram.

Over hundreds of former students allege abuse that spans from 1957 to 2004, with one formal complaint leading to charges[5]. Alain Esquerre, a survivor leading testimonial collection, has incorporated Perlant's account into his book, Le Silence de Bétharram (April 2025), intensifying the pressure for a parliamentary inquiry[2][3].

Francois Bayrou is set to face questions regarding this matter from the parliamentary inquiry commission on May 14[2]. He asserts that he has always been truthful about his involvement in this affair and is prepared to answer any questions that arise. Earlier this month, allegations surfaced that he had intervened in a rape case involving a religious figure from this Catholic school in the Béarn region. These allegations were vehemently denied by the Prime Minister.

The current mayor of Pau and former deputy and president of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques departmental council denies any prior knowledge about the physical and sexual aggressions now denounced by over 200 former students of the establishment.

This scandal has amplified ongoing debates about institutional accountability within France's Catholic education system, with Perlant's testimony adding familial and political weight to demands for transparency[1][4]. If you're curious about the latest findings and details surrounding this scandal, don't forget to check out our exclusive article, "Betharram Affair: hurtful remarks, sexual assaults among students, punishments... what's in the new inspection report" on our website with AFP. Stay tuned for more updates!

  1. The allegations of abuse at Notre-Dame de Bétharram reach far beyond Perlant's case, with hundreds of former students making claims of abuse that span from 1957 to 2004.
  2. Alain Esquerre, a survivor and a leader in collecting testimonials, has included Perlant's account in his book, Le Silence de Bétharram, intensifying the demand for a parliamentary inquiry.
  3. French politics have been intertwined with the Betharram Affair, as opposition lawmakers question François Bayrou's awareness of the abuse claims given his local prominence and children attending the school.
  4. The Betharram Affair has served as a catalyst for discussions regarding institutional accountability within France's Catholic education system, adding significant weight to the calls for transparency in general-news and crime & justice circles.
In a Tuesday disclosure, Hélène Perlant confessed to experiencing teenage abuse at a summer camp run by the same religious group connected to Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram. The prime minister stated that she never discussed this ordeal with him previously.
Hélène Perlant publicly revealed this week her experiences of violence during a summer camp run by the same congregation as Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram, where she was a teenager. She stated that the prime minister had never discussed this with her.
Helène Perlant publicly disclosed her past ordeal of violence at a summer camp managed by Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram's congregation, sharing her teenage struggles on Tuesday. Prime Minister has declared he's unaware of her ever discussing this with him.
Teenager Hélène Perlant disclosed on Tuesday her past experiences of violence at a summer camp affiliated with Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram congregation. French Prime Minister, unaware of these revelations, stated he had not been informed by Perlant about it.
Helen Perlant revealed on Tuesday her experiences of abuse as a teenager at a summer camp operated by the same congregation as Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram. The prime minister stated he had never discussed this matter with her.
Helène Perlant publicly disclosed her experiences of teenage violence at a summer camp run by Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram's congregation on Tuesday. The prime minister admitted he was unaware of these incidents, as Perlant never shared them with him before.
Hélène Perlant publicly exposed the physical abuse she suffered as a teenager at a congregation-led summer camp, notably linked to Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram. The prime minister allegedly confirmed he was never briefed on this matter by Perlant.
Reported on Tuesday, Hélène Perlant disclosed experiences of violence she suffered at a summer camp run by the same congregation as Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram, during her teenage years. The prime minister claimed he had never been informed about this matter.
Teenager Hélène Perlant allegedly experienced violent encounters during a summer camp operated by Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram's associated congregation, as revealed on Tuesday. The current prime minister has declared that he has yet to discuss this matter with her.
Helène Perlant publicly exposed her experiences of teenage violence at a summer camp run by the same church group linked to Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram. The prime minister stated that he had no prior knowledge or discussions about this matter with her.
Hélène Perlant publicly revealed on Tuesday the physical abuse she suffered as a teen at a summer camp linked to Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram's congregation. Despite this, the Prime Minister stated he had never discussed the matter with her.
On Tuesday, Hélène Perlant disclosed the mistreatment she endured as a teenager at a summer camp supervised by the same religious group linked to Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram. The prime minister flatly stated he had never discussed this matter with her.
Tuesday saw Hélène Perlant recounting the aggressive encounters she faced as a youth at a congregation-run summer camp similar to Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram. The Prime Minister admitted never having engaged in discussions with her about these harrowing experiences.
Hélène Perlant disclosed her experiences of violent encounters at a summer camp operated by the same congregation as Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram, which occurred in her teenage years. The prime minister clarified that she had never been privy to such discussions with him.
Helene Perlant publicly revealed yesterday her experiences of abuse during her teenage years at a summer camp run by the same sect as Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram. She stated the prime minister had never discussed this matter with her.
Helène Perlant publicly exposed the mistreatment she suffered as a teen at a congregation-run summer camp, similar to Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram, on Tuesday. The head honcho confirmed he never talked about this incident with her.
Reported yesterday, Helene Perlant disclosed experiences of abuse she endured as a teen at a camp operated by Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram's congregation. French Prime Minister acknowledged he was unaware of her past revelations.
Tuesday, Hélène Perlant disclosed experiences of violence she faced during her teenage years at a summer camp run by the same assembly as Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram. The Prime Minister acknowledged he hadn't conversed about this matter with her.
Hélène Perlant recounted on Tuesday her experiences of violence as a teenager at a summer camp run by the same congregation as Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram. The prime minister acknowledged he had never discussed this matter with her.
Hélène Perlant shared details this week about the physical abuse she experienced as a teen at a congregation-run summer camp, similar to Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram. The prime minister acknowledged he had never talked to her about such incidents.
Reported on Tuesday, Hélène Perlant disclosed abuse she endured as a teen at a summer camp managed by the same congregation as Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram. The prime minister stated he had no prior discussions regarding this matter with her.
Hélène Perlant accused a summer camp congregation, on Tuesday, of the violence she endured as a teenager. The congregation is associated with the one linked to Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram. The Prime Minister stated that she hadn't disclosed this to him before.
On a Tuesday, Hélène Perlant disclosed experiences of violence she faced as a teen during a summer camp linked to Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram's congregation. The nation's prime minister acknowledged he hadn't discussed this matter with her prior.
In a public statements on Tuesday, Hême Perlant accused a summer camp affiliated with Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram's congregation of instigating violent acts she suffered as a teenager. The Prime Minister allegedly asserted that she had not discussed this matter with him previously.
Teenage abuse allegations surface against summer camp run by Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram's congregation, as reported by Hélène Perlant on Tuesday. Despite these revelations, the prime minister claims he has not discussed the matter with her.
On a Tuesday, Hélène Perlant disclosed her harrowing adolescent encounters at a congregation-owned summer camp equivalent to Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram, where she suffered violence. France's prime minister acknowledged that Perlant had never relayed these experiences to him.
On a Tuesday disclosure, Hélène Perlant detailed the abuse she endured as a teen at a congregational summer camp akin to Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram. The prime minister admitted he hadn't conversed with her about this matter.
Tuesday saw Hélène Perlant disclose the physical violence she endured as a teen at a congregation-led summer camp, akin to Notre-Dame-de-Betharram's. Prime Minister remains silent on the matter, stating he never discussed this with her.
Teenage camp attendee, Hélène Perlant, publicly disclosed on Tuesday allegations of past violence she experienced. These incidents occurred at a summer camp managed by the same religious community as Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram. The Prime Minister reportedly stated he's never been apprised of these details.
Hélène Perlant publicly disclosed her experiences of violence during her teenage years at a summer camp operated by the congregation that also manages Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram. The prime minister stated that she had never been privy to these allegations.
Reported yesterday, Hélène Perlant disclosed abuses she endured at a summer camp run by the same association as Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram, during her teenage years. The Prime Minister acknowledged he had not previously discussed this matter with her.
Teenage Violence Experienced by Helene Perlant at Summer Camprun by Notre-Dame-de-Бetharram Congregation Discussed; Prime Minister Denies Knowledge of Her Ordeal
Hélène Perlant revealed on Tuesday her experiences of abuse at a summer camp managed by the same congregation as Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram, occurring during her teenage years. The Prime Minister declared he had not previously discussed this matter with her.
Teenage camper Hélène Perlant disclosed on Tuesday that she experienced physical harm at a summer program orchestrated by the association tied to Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram. The country's prime minister declared he never discussed this matter with her.
Hélène Perlant openly disclosed the physical abuse she endured as a teenager at a summer camp run by the same religious group associated with Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram. The Prime Minister allegedly claimed that she's never discussed this matter with him.
Hélène Perlant accused the religious congregation behind Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram of inflicting teenage violence upon her at a summer camp. The prime minister allegedly never discussed this matter with her.
Helene Perlant spoke out against the violent experiences she faced as a teenager at a summer camp associated with Notre-Dame-de-Betharram's congregation. Despite this, the prime minister claimed he had never discussed the matter with her.
Hélène Perlant disclosed mistreatment endured as a teen at a congregation's summer camp, similar to Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram, on Tuesday. The Prime Minister asserted he had never discussed this matter with her.
Helène Perlant publicly accused a summer camp affiliated with Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram's congregation of teenage violence against her. Subsequently, she claimed the prime minister had never discussed this issue with her.
Hélène Perlant disclosed on Tuesday her account of teenage abuse at a summer camp affiliated with Notre-Dame-de-Betharram's congregation. The Prime Minister acknowledged he had not received any discussion from her regarding this matter.
Teenager-endured violence was publicly denounced by Hélene Perlant in a summer camp run by Notre-Dame-de-Betharram's same congregation on Tuesday. Prime Minister confirms Perlant had stayed silent about it previously.
Teenage violence experienced by Hélène Perlant, as disclosed on Tuesday, occurred at a summer camp run by the same congregation as Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram. Despite this, the prime minister claims he has never conversed about the matter with her.

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