Bétharram Case: François Bayrou Meets Victims and Speaks on the Investigation

Prime Minister François Bayrou will travel to Pau this Saturday, February 15, to meet with the association of victims of Notre-Dame de Bétharram. This meeting, scheduled for 11:45 AM at the town hall, will provide victims with the opportunity to speak directly with the head of government. Alain Esquerre, spokesperson for the association, will be accompanied by about ten victims, some of whom have traveled from other regions.

A Dialogue to Advance the Investigation

François Bayrou and Alain Esquerre had already spoken on the phone on Wednesday, discussing ways to speed up the investigation launched by the Pau prosecutor’s office in February 2024. The inquiry concerns around a hundred complaints filed against the Catholic institution for alleged acts of violence and sexual assaults between the 1950s and 1990s.

Among the victims present, Pascal, who has filed a complaint, sees this meeting as an opportunity to advance recognition of the facts: “This is not about saving Bayrou, but about allowing the victims to testify and finally be heard. We need to move beyond the state of shock.”

Questions About François Bayrou’s Awareness of the Facts

Since the revelations of the case, questions remain regarding how much François Bayrou knew about the accusations against the institution. Mediapart accuses him of downplaying his involvement, claiming he was informed as early as the 1990s, when his son was a student at Notre-Dame de Bétharram and his wife taught catechism there.

When asked about this in 2024, the Prime Minister stated: “I knew there were rumors of physical violence, but I had never heard of sexual assault.” However, according to Le Monde and La République des Pyrénées, he allegedly met with a judge handling the case in 1998.

Expected Announcements

The Prime Minister is expected to make a statement following the meeting and may announce measures to strengthen support for victims and accelerate judicial investigations. Alain Esquerre believes that François Bayrou is “sincere” in his desire to shed full light on the case. It remains to be seen whether this meeting will bring concrete progress for the victims who have been seeking justice for decades.