With the aim of bringing a wave of fresh air to the French parliament, President Emmanuel Macron appointed Gabriel Attal as the new Prime Minister of France, Soon after being appointed, the youngest PM in French history, Attal promised to be bold and act quickly to assist the middle class in dealing with the rising cost of living. The former Minister of Education would replace the outgoing Prime Minister, Elisabeth Borne, during whose tenure was marked by political and social unrest over pension overhaul which spilled into anger on the streets and in Parliament, and a teenager getting shot during the protests.
After Attal was appointed Prime Minister, President Macron said he believed that Gabriel would provide the energy and commitment needed to implement the project of revitalization and regeneration.
For those unversed, Gabriel Attal is known as the rising star of French politics who went from being an Education Minister and government spokesman, to now becoming the youngest Prime Minister of France. Also, his role as a PM comes after a tough year for Macron, who had to deal with opposition in the country over pension and immigration schemes.
The newly-appointed prime minister, Attal stated that he takes it as a symbol of audacity that the youngest president in France is appointing the youngest prime minister in the history of the nation.
Gabriel is expected to make bold and unpopular decisions during his tenure as that was what he did as the Education Minister. He was behind the ban on Muslim abayas in French schools, earning him popularity among the conservative voters.
Among the others in line, Attal distinguished himself as he has the willingness to speak in public on any issue thrown his way. In fact, it is his spectacular communication skills, and ability to think and speak quickly when questions are thrown at him in the parliament, which has also led him to earn the nickname, “Word Sniper”.
MP Patrick Vignal, who belongs to Macron’s Renaissance party, drew a similarity between Attal and Macron, stating that the Prime Minister is a bit like President Macron of 2017 when he took office as the youngest leader in modern French history. However, at Attal’s appointment, several Opposition leaders stated that they were expecting huge policy changes, adding that it is Macron who does the bulk of decision-making and thus, Attal would have lesser control.
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