François Bayrou faces intense scrutiny in the Assembly regarding the Bétharram case, with accusations of his involvement in discussions about an alleged rape by Father Carricart. He firmly denies any wrongdoing and shifts blame to the previous socialist government, citing their awareness of the situation. Ségolène Royal counters his claims with her own directives on sexual violence, while other representatives accuse Bayrou of dishonesty. Amidst rising tensions, Gérald Darmanin defends Bayrou’s responses and emphasizes ongoing judicial actions.
François Bayrou Faces Scrutiny in the Assembly
François Bayrou finds himself in the spotlight once more as the Assembly intensifies its questioning regarding the Bétharram case. During the government question session on Tuesday, February 18, Colette Capdevielle, a socialist deputy from Pyrénées-Atlantiques, confronted him directly, asking, “Judge Christian Mirande claims to have met with you extensively in his office to discuss Father Carricart, who is accused of rape. Did this judge lie?” In response, Bayrou firmly asserted that he had “never” intervened, either “directly or indirectly,” with investigators or the judiciary concerning the allegations of violence within the Catholic institution of Notre-Dame-de-Bétharram.
Bayrou Shifts Blame to Jospin’s Government
To defend his stance, the Prime Minister highlighted his long-standing friendship with Judge Christian Mirande, stating, “He has been my neighbor for 50 years in my village. Did we possibly discuss this case? Probably, yes. However, it is imperative to note that a magistrate is prohibited, under severe disciplinary sanctions, from disclosing any details regarding the case he oversees.” Bayrou also claimed he had no familiarity with the Attorney General and insisted that no communication had taken place concerning this case.
Furthermore, Bayrou redirected the conversation towards the former socialist government led by Lionel Jospin, emphasizing that while he may not have been aware of the situation, others certainly were. He stated, “The Attorney General kept the Chancellery informed about these matters on four occasions in 1998,” and noted that the Minister of Justice at the time was Élisabeth Guigou. He urged the deputies to consider what actions were taken following the Attorney General’s reports.
In a swift rebuttal, Ségolène Royal expressed her “outrage at the Prime Minister’s accusations,” sharing her directives from August 1997 concerning “sexual violence” in schools and hinting at potential legal action for slander. Paul Vannier, a representative from La France insoumise, accused the Prime Minister of being dishonest in the national assembly.
As the discussion escalated, Gérald Darmanin intervened, asserting that the Prime Minister had adequately addressed all inquiries, and confirmed that, at his request, the public prosecutor’s office had been asked to pursue necessary reinforcement measures for the entire prosecutor’s office in light of the numerous complaints filed.