“The youngest president in history appoints the youngest prime minister in history. “I want to see it as a symbol of boldness,” said Atal, who is also the country's first openly gay prime minister.
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He was scouted by an old school colleague in 2018 when he was appointed a junior minister during Macron's first term. At the time, Attal was in a relationship with Stéphane Segorn, Macron's former political advisor.
Attal replaces Elisabeth Bourne (62 years old), the second woman to hold the position of Prime Minister in France. A dutiful and hard-working technocrat, her year and a half in office was marked by months of protests over pension reform and riots over the police shooting of a North African teenager.
It may take Macron and Attal several days to name a new government. An Elysee Palace aide said the usual Wednesday cabinet meeting was unlikely this week.
In recent weeks, Macron, who has struggled to deal with a more turbulent parliament since his re-election in 2022, has signaled that it is time for change.
Some voters seem to welcome this. “I think it's very good to have a young person… because it's a different concept, more dynamic,” said 81-year-old retiree Remy Blundell.
Emmanuel Macron's party is lagging badly behind Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally in the European Union elections.credit: Bloomberg
However, others were skeptical, with opponents – and some voters – saying not much would change, with Macron handling the bulk of the decision-making himself.
What can the French hope from the fourth prime minister and this fifth government in seven years? Le Pen said: Nothing.
A porter who is “young” and “fits well into the frame.” But beyond that what does the reshuffle change for us? “Personally, not so much,” said Parisian Sophie Farillon.
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MP Patrick Vignal, who belongs to Macron's Ennahda party, praised Attal, who he said “is a bit like the Macron of 2017,” referring to the point at which the president first took office as the youngest leader in modern French history, in 2017. Time is a popular figure among voters.
Vignal said Attal was “articulate and empowered.” The reshuffle is likely to intensify the race in Macron's camp to succeed him in the next presidential election in 2027, with former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, Interior Minister Gerard Darmanin and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire seen as potential candidates – along with Attal.
Reuters
