As he responds to questions from a political committee looking into allegations of sexual victimization at a Catholic school, French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou will have one of the most delicate times of his five months in office. As knowledge minister in the middle of the 1990s, Bayrou has been accused by the opposition of having known for many decades of the common physical and sexual abuse at the Notre-Dame de Betharram school in southwest France. The 73-year-old legislator, who served as France’s education secretary between 1993 and 1997, has denied any wrongdoing and denounced what he refers to as a “destruction” campaign against him.
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He claimed that speaking on Saturday, his testimony would give him the chance to “prove that all this was bogus” when he appeared before the council. The fifth prime minister of President Emmanuel Macron’s administration, Centrist Bayrou, was appointed as the country’s head of state in December. He has the difficult task of bringing France out of political turmoil for decades. Bis then, Bayrou has been able to withstand a no-confidence voting in a divided legislature, but the Betharram scandal has damaged his reputation and his approval rating has been gradually declining in recent months. Just 27 percent of French people approve of his work, according to a poll released on Friday, which showed that Bayrou’s popularity ranking dropped below that of Macron for the first time last year. According to political analysts, Bayrou may experience additional punishment based on how well he conducts the hearing, which is scheduled for Monday, at 5:30 p.m. ( 1500 GMT)? The Eurasia Group warned that the Betharram college scandal may not be enough to bring down Bayrou, but it could encourage his political foes and alleged friends to pressure the government into resuming operations for different reasons. The political chance consultancy added that “reasons for dissatisfaction abound,” citing France’s fiscal crisis. The two co-rapporteurs of the committee, Paul Vannier and Violette Spillebout, did issue Bayrou about what he knew about alleged murder, sexual assault, and assault at the school near the southern town of Pau, where Bayrou has been mayor since 2014, where he has been mayor since 2014. His family taught spiritual studies there, and several of his children were there. Many people, including his own daughter, have refuted Bayrou’s statements, including his own child. The church at the university, according to Bayrou’s eldest daughter, was accused of widespread abuse in April, including while her dad was a native official, contending that a priest beat her at 14 when she was 14 during summer camp. But, Heidi Perlant, who is now 53 and uses her mother’s title, claimed that her father was unaware of the event. Several members of Bayrou’s team think that the scandal may lead to his downfall. However, a top follower of Macron, who asked not to be identified, said that “if he lies before congress, he’s lifeless” socially. Bayrou has resisted numerous no-confidence requests, at least in part due to the socialists ‘ help. However, a Socialist senator who requested anonymity claims that Bayrou is “politically finished.” Greens have accused him of “perjury” and demanded his departure. The primary minister is not the issue of the investigation, according to a Bayrou affiliate. The investigation focuses on” the strategies used by the position to prevent and check violence in schools.” The two rapporteurs intend to give their opinions in late June after hearing testimony, sufferers, and former ministries. Since February next year, 200 legal issues have been filed against Betharram’s priests and employees for sexual or physical abuse, totaling, from 1957 to 2004. The parents of one of the patients accused Bayrou of “lying” on Monday because the scandal “was preventing his political fall.” Some residents recalled how some monks visited males at evening, claiming that the encounter had left them permanently scarred. Alain Esquerre, a representative of a group of university individuals, claimed that” the state has failed and has not protected the babies of Betharram.”
