LESTELLE-BéTHARRAM (FRANCE)
France 24 [Paris, France]
February 21, 2025
By France 24
A judicial investigation into charges of rape and sexual assault at the Notre-Dame de Bétharram school in southwestern France was opened against a former school employee Friday. French PM François Bayrou, whose children attended the school, has come under increasing scrutiny after a former teacher accused him and his wife of having turned a blind eye to years of abuse.
A judicial investigation was opened on Friday into charges of rape and sexual assault against one of the three men held in custody in connection with allegations of widespread physical and sexual abuse at the Notre-Dame de Bétharram school in southwestern France, the Pau public prosecutor’s office announced on Friday.
The suspect, a former monitor, was working at the school last year before being dismissed following the opening of the judicial investigation.
The other two men who were taken into custody on Wednesday were let go as the charges against them fell outside the statute of limitations, the public prosecutor said.
France’s prime minister was under increasing pressure Friday after a former teacher at Bétharram claimed François Bayrou was aware of claims of sexual abuse of young boys there in the 1990s but did not act on them.
The embattled prime minister has in recent days faced accusations from the opposition that he knew of widespread physical and sexual abuse at the Catholic boarding school, which several of his own children attended.
Prosecutors have been investigating around 100 complaints of alleged violence, sexual assault and rape committed at Bétharram over several decades.
Bayrou, who served as the country’s education minister between 1993 and 1997, has repeatedly denied any wrong-doing.
French PM faces scrutiny over sexual abuse claims at Catholic school – please see original article for video
On Thursday, a former teacher at the boarding school told French investigative website Mediapart that Bayrou, 73, and his wife, who taught religious studies there, had ignored her warnings about the “systemic violence” against the boarders.
Françoise Gullung taught mathematics at the school between 1994 and 1996, Mediapart said.
Bayrou insisted both he and his wife were innocent.
“There is nothing more shameful than targeting someone’s family in order to get to them politically,” he told journalists.
“Those who whip up these scandals are not interested in the victims, they are not interested in justice,” he said.
“What interests them is whether they could stir up a scandal that would have political repercussions for the government and the prime minister.”
Bayrou, a veteran centrist named by President Emmanuel Macron in December to end months of political crisis after inconclusive snap polls, does not have a majority in a divided parliament and depends on the support of the Socialists.
He has survived multiple no-confidence motions, including over his budget, partially due to support from the Socialists. Losing their backing over the school sexual abuse scandal would be a major blow.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)