French PM on defensive over sexual abuse claims at Catholic school

Bayrou, a veteran centrist named by President Emmanuel Macron in December to end months of political crisis after inconclusive snap polls, does not have a parliamentary majority in a bitterly divided parliament and depends on the support of the Socialists to survive.

In a new controversy gripping French politics, the Socialists have asked Bayrou to say clearly whether he was aware of widespread claims of violence and rape of minors committed at a Catholic school between the 1970s and 1990s.

"We demand that all the light be shed on these crimes and on Francois Bayrou's knowledge of this case, particularly when he was education minister between 1993 and 1997," the party said in a statement.

Prosecutors have been investigating around a hundred complaints concerning alleged violence, sexual assault and rape committed at the Notre-Dame de Betharram school in southwestern France between the 1970s and 1990s.

Bayrou's own children attended the school.

"I reject artificial controversies on this subject," Bayrou, 73, said in parliament, denying any wrongdoing for the second day in a row.

He said that "at no time" was he warned of the alleged incidents at the time.

Some lawmakers even said Bayrou should quit his post.

Greens MP Arnaud Bonnet said the prime minister must provide "clear answers" or resign.

"Your silence indicates that the code of silence reigns at the top of the state", said Paul Vannier, a lawmaker with the hard-left France Unbowed party (LFI).

"It directly involves the president (Emmanuel Macron), who is solely responsible for your continued presence at Matignon," he said, referring to the seat of the prime minister in Paris.

Last week French investigative website Mediapart reported that Bayrou did not act after priests and supervisors at the Catholic school were accused of widespread sexual abuse.

Witnesses, questioned by AFP last week, also claimed that Bayrou must have been aware of the allegations of sexual assault.

On Tuesday, Bayrou also rejected the accusations when he was grilled by lawmakers in parliament.

"I can assure you that it is all untrue and that a complaint for defamation will obviously be filed," he said.

Bayrou had already found himself in hot water with the Socialists recently when he referred to immigrants "flooding" France, using terminology previously used by the far right.

In a symbolic move, the party leadership proposed a no-confidence motion after those comments, urging the prime minister to uphold republican values.