Bayrou's Daughter Reveals Abuse at Catholic School, Heightening Scandal

French Prime Minister François Bayrou's eldest daughter, Hélène Perlant, has revealed she was physically abused by a priest at the Notre-Dame de Bétharram Catholic school in the 1980s, adding a personal dimension to a scandal involving decades of abuse at the institution. Perlant described being violently beaten and psychologically intimidated, stating she kept silent for decades due to the school's oppressive environment. The revelations come amid rising scrutiny of Bayrou, who was a local MP and education minister during some of the alleged abuses, though he denies any knowledge of the incidents. Bayrou expressed shock and deep hurt at his daughter's account and is set to appear before a parliamentary inquiry as part of the ongoing investigation. The scandal involves hundreds of former pupils who have come forward with claims of both physical and sexual abuse spanning from the 1950s to 2010. The case has intensified national debate over accountability and transparency in addressing institutional abuse within French Catholic schools.