Saturday, March 29, 2025
Allegations from Hélène Perlant add new dimension to a deepening crisis that threatens François Bayrou’s political standing.
Hélène Perlant, daughter of France’s prime minister François Bayrou, has publicly revealed she was violently assaulted as a teenager at a now-notorious Catholic school in the 1980s. Speaking to Paris Match, Perlant described being beaten by a priest during a school camp when she was just 14 years old.
The revelations come amid a widening abuse scandal at the Notre-Dame de Bétharram school, located in south-western France. The case has triggered political shockwaves and cast a shadow over Bayrou’s leadership.
Perlant, now 53, said the attack occurred during a summer camp at the school:
“Father Lartiguet grabbed me by the hair, dragged me across the floor, and began punching and kicking me, mostly in the stomach. I urinated on myself and spent the night curled up in my sleeping bag.”
The horrific account is part of an upcoming book written by abuse survivors. Perlant said she remained silent for over 30 years, partially to shield her father from political fallout.
Bayrou, a longtime political figure and former education minister, has repeatedly denied any knowledge of the abuse. However, questions persist. Three of his six children attended Bétharram, and his wife was a catechism teacher at the school.
In February, leftwing MPs accused Bayrou of covering up past abuse. Paul Vannier, a lawmaker from La France Insoumise, told parliament:
“Prime Minister, you lied to hide your knowledge of violence against children—violence you were duty-bound to report.”
Bayrou responded:
“I was never informed of any violence—physical or sexual.”
Since early 2023, over 200 formal complaints have been filed against priests and staff at Bétharram for abuses spanning nearly five decades. Ninety complaints relate to sexual violence, including a particularly disturbing case of alleged group rape by two priests.
Some complaints resulted in criminal charges, while others were dismissed due to expired legal time limits.
This month, the parliamentary commission investigating the scandal heard sworn testimonies contradicting Bayrou’s denials. Alain Hontangs, an investigator in a 1998 rape case at the school, claimed a judge told him Bayrou intervened to delay proceedings.
The judge, Christian Mirande, confirmed discussing the rape case with Bayrou, though he said he could not recall speaking to Hontangs. Nevertheless, he affirmed trust in Hontangs’ account.
Bayrou continues to deny any interference, stating to reporters:
“I have never intervened in any legal case.”
Bayrou, who has been mayor of Pau since 2014 and a dominant figure in the region for decades, is scheduled to appear before the parliamentary commission on May 14.
With fresh testimonies, mounting legal action, and political pressure intensifying, the prime minister’s fate could hinge on that hearing.
