French President Emmanuel Macron appointed 34-year-old Education Minister Gabriel Attal as his new prime minister on Tuesday, aiming to inject fresh momentum into his second term ahead of the European Parliament elections.
While this move may not lead to significant political shifts, it signals Macron's intent to move past last year's controversial pension and immigration reforms and enhance his centrist party's prospects in the June EU ballot. Current opinion polls indicate that Macron's camp is trailing the far-right leader Marine Le Pen's party by around eight to ten percentage points.
Gabriel Attal, a close ally of Macron who gained prominence as the government spokesperson during the COVID-19 pandemic, will succeed outgoing Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne. Known as one of the country's most popular politicians in recent polls, Attal is recognised for his adeptness as a minister, particularly in media appearances and parliamentary sessions. As the new prime minister, Attal will be the youngest in French history and the first openly gay individual to hold the position.
Notably, the combined ages of Gabriel Attal and President Macron are slightly below that of Joe Biden, who is seeking re-election in the U.S. presidential race later this year.