Gabriel Attal was named France's youngest-ever prime minister on Tuesday, as President Emmanuel Macron seeks a fresh start for the remainder of his term amid mounting political pressure from the far-right.
Mr. Attal, 34, was a high-profile government spokesperson as education minister at the time, and was voted in opinion polls as the outgoing government's most popular minister. He is France's first openly gay prime minister.
Her predecessor, Elisabeth Born, resigned on Monday following recent political turmoil over immigration legislation that would strengthen the government's power to deport foreign nationals.
Macron's office announced the appointment in a statement.
He is expected to work with Attal to form a new government within days, although some key ministers are expected to remain in their posts.
“I know I can count on your energy and dedication,” Macron wrote on X in a message to Attal. The president cited the “spirit of 2017” in which Macron shook up French politics and won a surprise victory as France's youngest president on a business-centrist platform aimed at reviving one of the world's largest nations. mentioned that it was revived. economy.
The 46-year-old president has since moved to the right on security and immigration issues, particularly as his far-right rival Marine Le Pen and his anti-immigration, anti-Islam National Rally party gain political influence.
Macron's second term will run until 2027, but a third consecutive term is prohibited under the constitution. Political commentators also said Mr Macron, an ardent supporter of European integration, is preparing the new government for June's European Union elections, in which far-right anti-EU populists are expected to gain influence. He suggested that he would like to have the system fixed.
Attal's critics, on both the left and the right, have cited his inexperience, his upbringing in Paris as out of touch with those struggling in rural areas, and his loyalty to the president. My heart was condemned.
Le Pen posted on X, formerly Twitter: “What can the French expect from their fourth prime minister and their fifth government in seven years (under Macron)? Nothing,” he said, calling on voters to choose their party in the European elections.
“France needs urgent action and a different approach,” Conservative Party leader Eric Ciotti said in a statement. Continuous communication must be replaced by clarity and firm policy. ” He added that the party would remain a “responsible opposition” to a centrist government.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, founder of the far-left party France Insoumise (France Indomitable), derided Attal in an article about X that he had “returned to the position of spokesperson”. The function of the prime minister is disappearing. Only the presidential monarch rules his court. ”
Attal, a former member of the Socialist Party, joined Macron's newly created political movement in 2016 and served as government spokesperson from 2020 to 2022, a job for which he became well known to the French public. .
He was then appointed Minister of Budget, and in July he was appointed Minister of Education, one of the most prestigious positions in the French government.
Attar quickly announced a ban on long robes in classrooms, effective from the start of the school year in September, saying the clothes worn mainly by Muslims were testing secularism in schools.
He also launched plans to pilot uniforms in some public schools as part of an effort to shift focus away from clothing and reduce bullying in schools.
Atal recently detailed on state television TF1 how she suffered from bullying during her junior high school days, including homophobic harassment.
In the French political system, the prime minister is appointed by the president and is responsible to parliament. The prime minister is responsible for implementing domestic policies, particularly economic measures, and for coordinating the government's ministerial team.
The president has substantial authority over foreign policy and European affairs, and is also the supreme commander of the armed forces.
Attal will face the same obstacles as his predecessor. Macron's centrist party lost its majority in parliament last year, forcing the government to play political games and use special constitutional powers to pass laws.
Tough negotiations and heated debates in parliament over the immigration bill have cast doubt on the Born government's ability to pass future major legislation.
Macron's centrist coalition was only able to pass the bill after reaching an agreement with Republicans, but it prompted the resignation of left-wing government ministers and angered many in Macron's own coalition.
Borne said last year also saw mass protests across France (often marred by violence) against a law that would raise the retirement age from 62 to 64 and the police shooting of a teenager. It also faced several days of violence.
Interior Minister Gerard Darmanin, who supported the immigration bill, said on Tuesday that he was ready to continue in his role as the country's top police officer, especially as the Paris Olympics open in less than 200 days and there are serious security concerns. said.
