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32-year-old Gabriel Attal is poised to assume the role of France's next prime minister in a bid by Emmanuel Macron to rejuvenate his presidency through a cabinet overhaul.

 

This strategic reshuffling is part of Macron's broader efforts to inject new momentum into his second term, particularly in anticipation of the upcoming European Parliament elections later this year, as reported by The Guardian.

 

In an official statement released on Tuesday, the presidential office announced, "The president of the republic appointed Mr. Gabriel Attal prime minister, and tasked him with forming a government."

 

At the age of 34, Gabriel Attal, currently serving as the Education Minister, will not only become France's youngest prime minister but also the first openly gay individual to hold the position. The previous record for the youngest post-war prime minister was held by Laurent Fabius, who was appointed at the age of 37 in 1984.

 

Attal is set to succeed Elisabeth Borne, who resigned on Monday, according to reports from local media. A former member of the Socialist Party since the age of 17, Attal is a close ally of Macron and gained prominence as the government spokesperson during the COVID-19 pandemic. He subsequently took on roles as a junior minister in the finance ministry and, in 2023, assumed the position of education minister.

 

Widely popular in recent opinion polls, Attal is known for his adeptness both in radio shows and parliamentary settings. Notably, as education minister, he garnered attention by banning the Muslim abaya dress in state schools, a move that received praise from conservatives despite his left-wing background.

 

Reflecting on Attal's appointment, MP Patrick Vignal remarked, "Gabriel Attal is a bit like the Macron of 2017," drawing a parallel to Macron's initial popularity upon taking office as the youngest leader in modern French history.

 

Attal's recent appearance on a prominent TV show, where he shared a personal experience of being bullied during middle school, highlighted his ability to connect with the public. Vignal, a member of Macron's Renaissance party, emphasized Attal's clarity and authority.

 

Harris Interactive pollster Jean-Daniel Levy noted, "The Macron-Attal duo can bring a new lease of life (to the government)," underlining the potential for rejuvenation.

 

While the transition may not lead to a substantial political shift, it signals Macron's intention to move beyond the contentious pension and immigration reforms of the previous year, aiming to bolster the prospects of his centrist party in the upcoming June EU ballot. Opinion polls currently show Macron's camp trailing Marine Le Pen's far-right party by approximately eight to ten percentage points.