The Bétharram Scandal: François Bayrou's Evasive Testimony under the Microscope
Prime Minister's Grilling over Bétharram Incident: MP Alexis Corbière Accuses Leader of Distraction Tactics
Alexis Corbière, an ecological deputy known for his work in the parliamentary commission on the Bétharram Affair, took a strong stance against François Bayrou on May 14. According to Corbière, Bayrou's extended comments during the hearing served to evade simple questions about his knowledge or lack thereof of the violence against students that took place between the '70s and '90s.
: DIRECT. The Bétharram Affair: "I've got nothing to hide" - François Bayrou's defense before the inquiry commission
In response, Corbière accused the Prime Minister of employing distraction tactics, stating, "We've got a Prime Minister who practices diversion." He went on to express his concern over the changing versions of events that Bayrou provided, denouncing the Prime Minister's initial claim of ignorance before the National Assembly on February 11, and subsequent change in stance.
The deputy noted that during Bayrou's hearing, the Prime Minister often resorted to aggressive counterattacks and questioned the sincerity of the parliamentary commission, a view Corbière deemed shocking.
He added, "Nobody's trying to crush him in this commission, but we're discussing a major issue: sexual violence against children." Corbière further acknowledged the rising suspicions about an "old boys' network" or local institutional elite conspiring to shield the scandal from public scrutiny, although stopping short of suggesting Bayrou's complicity.
In-Depth Look at the Bétharram Affair
The Bétharram Affair encompasses a dark chapter in French history, with over 200 former students accusing staff at Notre-Dame de Bétharram, a Catholic school in southwestern France, of physical and sexual abuse between the 1950s and 2000s. The allegations include numerous reported rapes by priests[3].
François Bayrou, the Prime Minister and Pau's former mayor, has found himself at the center of the controversy due to his extensive ties to the region and the school. Three of his children, including his eldest daughter, Hélène Perlant, allege suffering physical abuse at the hands of a priest back in the 1980s[4].
Bayrou has faced criticism for his conflicting statements about the abuse allegations, initially denying any knowledge, but later acknowledging being aware of a specific incident involving a school supervisor in 1996. This U-turn has led some to question his accountability and whether he may have concealed the extent of his knowledge about the abuses at the school[3][4].
The ongoing scandal has shed light on broader societal issues, such as the persistent culture of silence and submission that facilitated the perpetuation of such abuses for decades[2][3].
- The ongoing Bétharram Affair, a shocking chapter in French policy-and-legislation and general-news, has put Prime Minister François Bayrou under the microscope, as he faces accusations of evasion during his testimony about the alleged cover-up of student violence at Notre-Dame de Bétharram in the '70s and '90s.
- The Bétharram Affair has also sparked debates about the politics behind the controversy, as critics question Bayrou's accountability and the potential role of an "old boys' network" or local institutional elite in shielding the scandal.
