In a heated response to allegations made by Prime Minister François Bayrou, former French ministers Élisabeth Guigou and Ségolène Royal have mounted a strong defense against accusations linked to the Notre-Dame de Bétharram scandal. The contentious issue has sparked a war of words within the French political landscape.
Élisabeth Guigou, who served as Minister of Justice under former Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, described the allegations as a “miserable political controversy.” She emphasized the independence of the judiciary system in handling the Notre-Dame de Bétharram case, which involved repeated acts of violence at a Catholic institution near Pau. Guigou noted that during her tenure, three written warnings were reportedly sent to her between 1998 and 2000, hinting at potential large-scale issues within the establishment.
Ségolène Royal, who was then serving as the Minister of School Education, expressed her outrage at what she termed “unworthy attacks from a panicked Prime Minister.” She announced her intention to file a lawsuit for “defamation and slanderous denunciation.” Royal underscored her commitment to combating child sexual abuse, highlighting her proactive measures during her time in office.
The controversy reignited when François Bayrou, in response to parliamentary inquiries, targeted the Jospin government, asserting that critical information regarding the scandal was communicated to the Ministry of Justice in 1998. Bayrou, who held the position of Minister of Education from 1993 to 1997, denied any prior knowledge of the sexual assaults and rapes alleged to have occurred between the 1970s and 1990s. He claimed that an inspection was ordered in 1996 following a complaint by a student who was violently slapped by a supervisor.
Bayrou insisted that the prosecutor general had notified the Ministry of Justice multiple times in 1998 about the gravity of the incidents, including immediately after the arrest of Father Carricart, a former director of the institution accused of rape. He specifically mentioned Élisabeth Guigou, the Justice Minister at the time.
Amidst the ongoing political fallout, Royal challenged Bayrou to clarify whether he implemented her 1997 circular against child sexual abuse, which called for listening to all children involved and reporting to the prosecutor.
The political tension surrounding the Bétharram affair continues to unfold, as both Guigou and Royal stand firm in defending their actions during the period in question, calling for accountability and transparency from current and former government officials.
