French President, Emmanuel Macron, has appointed 34-year old Education Minister, Gabriel Attal, as Prime Minister.
Attal is the youngest French Prime Minister in modern history. He succeeds Elisabeth Borne, who resigned on Monday, January 9, 2024.
Attal is also the first openly gay Prime Minister of France.
The reshuffle comes as Macron is seeking to give fresh impetus to his second mandate ahead of European parliament elections later this year. Macron said in a social media post that he knows he can count on Gabriel Attal’s “energy” and “commitment.”
Gabriel Attal, 34, who was serving as Education Minister, has been referred to as a “baby Macron” in terms of his ambition, strong media presence and centrist politics, and is considered the best-known and most recognisable face of the close circle of young politicians around the president.
During Attal’s five months defending a hard-line on authority and secularism as Education Minister, including banning girls in state schools from wearing abayas, or long flowing dresses, and experimenting with introducing school uniform, he shot up the opinion polls as the most popular minister in government.
Attal, who has also served as Budget Minister, became a household name as government Spokesperson during the COVID pandemic and is seen a master of political communication.
He is known to believe that it is important “to speak to people’s hearts.”
European Leaders Congratulate Gabriel Attal
Macron’s allies welcomed the move and foreign leaders congratulated Attal.
Denys Shmyhal, Ukraine’s Prime Minister, posted on X, “Congratulations to Gabriel Attal on his appointment as Prime Minister of France.”
He stated, “We look forward to further fruitful cooperation in combating Russian aggression, prosecuting Russian war criminals, strengthening our defence capabilities and restoring Ukraine.”
“We appreciate France’s support on the road to Ukraine’s EU membership,” he added.
Lithuania’s Prime Minister, Ingrida Šimonytė, also congratulated Attal, saying, “Wish you every success!”
She added that she is looking forward to further strengthening her country and France’s strategic dialogue and security of their “shared European home, safeguarding values of democracy and supporting Ukraine.”
In a post on X, Gabriel Attal thanked Emmanuel Macron for his confidence.
“Let’s get to work, with strength, humility and without taboos, in the service of the French people,” he said.
Following the announcement that Gabriel Attal is France’s new Prime Minister, SOS homophobie, an NGO working to combat discrimination against LGBTI people, said that “we are delighted that being gay or homosexual is no longer an obstacle to holding a senior position.”
It noted, “Society is progressing and this visibility is a step in the right direction.”
“We expect a government that tackles the issue of violence and aggression against LGBTI people head-on, and takes concrete action for equal rights,” it added.
Some of the French leadership’s domestic critics said that Macron was merely trying to benefit from Attal’s popularity and that the new Prime Minister would merely function as a spokesperson.
The French far left’s Jean-Luc Mélenchon said that Gabriel Attal was simply returning to the role of spokesperson, arguing that the function of Prime Minister has disappeared.
Far-right politician Marine Le Pen also noted on social media, “What can the French expect from this fourth prime minister and fifth government in seven years? Nothing.”
“Tired of this puerile ballet of ambitions and egos, they are waiting for a plan that puts them back at the heart of public priorities,” she added.
She said that the road to change would begin on June 9, 2024, the date of the European parliament election.
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