PARIS. French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Gabriel Attal as the new prime minister, making him the youngest person to assume the role in modern French history at the age of 34. The announcement was made on Tuesday by Macron’s political party and reported by broadcaster BFM.
Attal, who currently serves as the education minister, is expected to bring fresh energy to the government as Macron aims to navigate through a challenging political landscape. The president expressed confidence in Attal, stating, “I know I can count on your energy and your commitment to implement the rearmament and regeneration project that I announced.”
The appointment follows the resignation of Elisabeth Borne on Monday, who reportedly stepped down at Macron’s request. Borne, in a letter, emphasized the continued necessity of government reforms, stating, “It is more necessary than ever to continue the reforms” despite her departure.
In the French political system, the prime minister leads the government and is appointed by the president. However, they cannot be directly dismissed by the president.
Macron and Borne faced numerous challenges in 2023, including public and lawmaker opposition to a proposal to raise the retirement age. The government also encountered setbacks when an initial draft of an immigration bill, considered a signature Macron policy, was voted down in December. It eventually passed after being redrafted to adopt a more stringent stance.
As Macron’s personal disapproval rating stands at 68%, according to a Politico aggregate of polls, the political landscape appears challenging for his party, Ensemble, a liberal coalition. It is currently trailing behind both the far-right National Rally and the left-wing New Ecological and Social People’s Union.
Gabriel Attal, a close ally of Macron, emerges as a popular figure among government ministers, according to polls. Additionally, he will make history as the first openly gay prime minister of France.
“I know I can count on your energy and your commitment to implement the rearmament and regeneration project that I announced,” Macron affirmed in a statement addressed to Attal.
The appointment of Attal is seen as a strategic political move in the lead-up to the European Parliament elections in June, where Macron’s Renaissance party aims to avoid potential setbacks in the wake of controversial policy decisions.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
