By Peter Omopo
French Prime Minister François Bayrou is set to appear before a parliamentary committee on Wednesday in what is shaping up to be the most critical moment of his five-month tenure, as lawmakers probe allegations of longstanding abuse at a Catholic school he was once linked to.
Bayrou, 73, is expected to answer questions regarding claims that he was aware of decades of physical and sexual abuse at the Notre-Dame de Betharram school in southwestern France during his time as Education Minister from 1993 to 1997. The centrist politician, now serving as the sixth prime minister under President Emmanuel Macron, has vehemently denied any knowledge of wrongdoing and condemned what he describes as a campaign of “destruction” against him.
Speaking ahead of the hearing, Bayrou said he welcomed the opportunity to clear his name. “This will give me the chance to prove that all of this is false,” he said on Saturday.
The parliamentary session, scheduled for 5:00 p.m. local time (1500 GMT), will be led by commission co-rapporteurs Paul Vannier and Violette Spillebout. They are expected to question Bayrou on what he knew about the alleged abuses at the Betharram school, located near Pau—his political stronghold and where he has served as mayor since 2014. His ties to the school run deep: several of his children attended it, and his wife formerly taught religious studies there.
While Bayrou has so far weathered a no-confidence vote in a fractured National Assembly, the Betharram scandal has dented his credibility and further strained his political standing. His approval rating dipped below that of President Macron for the first time last week, with only 27% of French citizens expressing support for his leadership, according to a recent opinion poll.
Political analysts warn that Bayrou’s future may hinge on his performance before the committee. “The Betharram school scandal may not be sufficient in itself to bring down Bayrou,” noted a report by Eurasia Group, “but it could embolden his parliamentary enemies—and even allies—to consider toppling the government amid wider discontent.”
France is currently grappling with a mounting fiscal crisis, and dissatisfaction with the government has been growing. Analysts suggest that the abuse inquiry may be just one of several triggers that could fuel political upheaval.
Adding to Bayrou’s troubles, several individuals—including his own daughter—have publicly contradicted his past statements about the school, casting further doubt on his account of events.
As one political observer bluntly put it: “If he lies, he’s dead.”
