Who is Gabriel Attal, France ‘s youngest & first gay Prime minister

New Delhi: French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday Tuesday appointed incumbent Education Minister Gabriel Attal as his new Prime Minister. The motive behind elevating him as France PM is to infuse fresh life into his second mandate, ahead of the European Parliamentary elections.

For the uninitiated, Gabriel Attal has become the youngest as well as first gay Prime Minister of the country.
Macron-led centrist regime is facing a stiff competition from the rightist party in wake of recent violence engulfing its various towns. Opinion polls show right-wing party leader Le Pen taking lead against Macron-led government by a good 8-10% points.

Though, Macron picking his new Prime Minister ahead of EU ballot in June is unlikely to bring any change in electoral fortune for the party but will certainly help the incumbent government tide over last year’s unpopular pension & immigration reforms.

Who is Gabriel Attal?

Gabriel Attal is the first gay person to take over as France Prime Minister. He rose to prominence during the Covid pandemic era when he addressed the nation as government spokesman. He will replace outgoing Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne, RTL radio and BFM TV said.

He will be France’s youngest and first ‘openly gay’ Prime Minister.

Macron and Attal, both are young & dynamic leaders and together their combined age is less than that of Joe Biden, who is supposedly running for second term in the upcoming US Presidnetial elections.

Macron has struggled to deal with a more turbulent parliament since losing his absolute majority shortly after being reelected in 2022.

Can Macron-Attal bring difference to governance?

Contrasting views exist over what differences will newly nominated Prime Minister Attal will bring in Macron’s governance.

However, Opposition leaders aren’t impressed with the new induction and they see hardly any ‘positive changes’ coming up in existing tenure as Macron remains very much the command centre in decision making.