in Bordères, the village of François Bayrou, the inhabitants support the man who “did not deny his origins”

In the village where François Bayrou was born, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, residents hail a “fine example of meritocracy”.

The new Prime Minister has certainly been the mayor of Pau for ten years, but he was also born in the region. : in the small village of Bordères, located between Pau and Lourdes, with which he has kept a strong connection.

It is the cradle of the Bayrou family, where he was born and where he still lives, a rural village of 600 inhabitants, very proud of its book fair which brought together more than 4 000 people a month and a half ago. The mayor, Michel Minvielle, immediately clarifies that he is not on the same side as François Bayrou since he sits on the left in the Departmental Council, but appreciates the appointment of François Bayrou. “He lives here, it’s not a cliché, he’s really a child from the village who hasn’t denied his origins. He’s a fine example of republican meritocracy,” argues the councilor.

“He is still the son of a modest farmer, while these functions are generally always reserved for a certain social elite.”

Michel Minvielle

at franceinfo

At Bordères, the oldest remember a very gifted student who learned quickly, who was ambitious and determined, but also a courageous young man who was not spared from the harsh trials of life. Maurice Buzy-Pucheu, a close friend of the Bayrou family, particularly mentions the early and accidental death of François Bayrou’s father. “His father fell out of a cart of hay. François was 23 years old and a student in Bordeaux. At that time, there were no support services like now, so it was the mutual aid from the village.

“For three years he took care of the farm. He did the plowing. They had sold the cattle to save the farm, but everything else was his responsibility.”

Maurice Buzy-Pucheu

at franceinfo

Everyone in Bordères of course wants the local child to succeed, even if it looks complicated, as Marco, one of the young people from the village he meets after the rugby team training, admits. “Sometimes it’s not enough to have the qualities. It might be a little complicated but we believe in him”.