Bétharram Scandal: François Bayrou Faces Crucial Hearing Amid Allegations of Silence and Contradiction

On Wednesday, May 14, François Bayrou will testify under oath before a parliamentary commission investigating the Bétharram scandal — a long-hidden case of abuse that has rocked a prestigious Catholic school in the Béarn region. The institution is at the center of disturbing revelations of physical, psychological, and sexual violence spanning decades, which have led to nearly 200 complaints, some now implicating the Prime Minister himself.

Pressure has been mounting ahead of this high-stakes hearing. Bayrou, who serves as both mayor of Pau and former Minister of National Education (1993–1997), faces intense scrutiny over what he knew — and when — about the abuse that allegedly took place at the school attended by his children and where his wife taught catechism.

A Past That Haunts

Several testimonies directly contradict Bayrou’s claim of ignorance. Françoise Gullung, a former math teacher at Bétharram, says she warned Bayrou’s wife as early as 1994 and later tried to alert the minister himself. Another witness recalls a violent incident in 1987–1988 witnessed by Bayrou’s daughter, Hélène Perlant, raising questions about what may have been reported within the family. Perlant has since come forward with her own story of abuse during a church-run summer camp, though she maintains her father was unaware at the time.

In 1996, a parent filed a complaint after a school supervisor allegedly slapped his son so violently that it ruptured his eardrum — an incident widely covered by the press, especially since Bayrou’s son was in the same class. Despite public outcry, Bayrou, then Minister of Education, publicly defended the school.

Judicial Shadows and Controversial Encounters

Wednesday’s hearing may also shed light on a 1998 exchange between Bayrou and an investigating judge regarding a rape complaint against a priest from Bétharram. While Bayrou insists it was a chance encounter, the judge confirmed that Bayrou did indeed visit him at his home. A former gendarme also testified that the priest’s court appearance was delayed due to a request from the public prosecutor — allegedly prompted by an intervention from Bayrou.

The Prime Minister has issued conflicting statements in recent weeks about what he knew. He claims never to have heard of any serious abuse, though even his daughter has contradicted him publicly, recalling a conversation where he admitted knowing more than he let on.

A Tense Political Moment

Bayrou has been preparing intensively for this testimony at Matignon, assisted by a close-knit team. His entourage acknowledges the emotional weight of the hearing, given the personal ties to the school. “He’s used to political pressure,” one advisor confided, “but this hits much closer to home.”

Within government circles, the day looms large. Some fear a misstep under pressure could prove fatal for a Prime Minister already viewed as one of the most unpopular in the history of the Fifth Republic. “He knows how to weather political storms,” said one minister, while another warned, “But this time, one slip could bring everything down.”

The parliamentary commission’s final report is expected by the end of June. Whether François Bayrou can emerge unscathed — or whether May 14 marks a turning point in his political career — remains to be seen.