Macron aims for a fresh start by appointing Gabriel Attal as France’s youngest prime minister.
French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed 34-year-old Education Minister Gabriel Attal as the new prime minister, aiming to invigorate his second term before the upcoming European Parliament elections. Attal, now the youngest and first openly gay prime minister in French history, symbolizes Macron’s intent to move beyond the contentious pension and immigration reforms of the previous year, hoping to bolster his centrist party’s prospects in the June EU ballot.
While the nomination may not bring about significant political shifts, it reflects Macron’s determination to distance himself from past unpopular policies and attract a broader base of support. Macron expressed confidence in Attal’s abilities, stating on the social media platform X, “Dear @GabrielAttal, I know I can count on your energy and your commitment to implement the project of revitalisation and regeneration that I announced.”
Facing challenges in parliament without a working majority, Macron has been navigating a second-term reform agenda leaning towards the right, aiming to secure support from conservative voters and counter the rise of the far-right led by Marine Le Pen. Opinion polls show Macron’s party trailing Le Pen’s by approximately eight to ten percentage points.
At 46, Macron and Attal, with their combined age just below that of U.S. President Joe Biden, are set to bring a fresh dynamic to French politics. Attal, a Macron loyalist, gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic as the government spokesman, establishing himself as a skilled communicator.
Replacing Elisabeth Borne, 62, Attal inherits the position as only the third woman to hold the prime ministerial role in France. Borne’s tenure was marked by protests over pension reforms and riots stemming from the police shooting of a teenager of North African descent. Macron and Attal are expected to take several days to announce a new government, with the traditional Wednesday cabinet meeting likely postponed.
Despite Macron’s desire for change, some critics remain skeptical. Marine Le Pen’s National Rally party leader, Jordan Bardella, views Attal’s appointment as an attempt by Macron to maintain popularity and ease the challenges of his prolonged rule. Meanwhile, some citizens, like Parisian Sophie Varillon, question the impact of the reshuffle on their lives, suggesting that Macron still holds sway in French politics. On the other hand, MP Patrick Vignal, a member of Macron’s Renaissance party, sees Attal as reminiscent of Macron in 2017, highlighting his clarity and authority.
