Attal, 34, rose in opinion polls during his time as education minister and may improve ruling party’s chances in EU elections
Emmanuel Macron has appointed France’s youngest prime minister in modern times, Gabriel Attal, as he seeks to reinvigorate a difficult second term as president and limit any possible gains for the far right in the forthcoming European elections in June.
Attal, 34, who was serving as education minister, has been referred to as a “baby Macron” in terms of his ambition, strong media presence and centrist politics, and is considered the best-known and most recognisable face of the close circle of young politicians around the president.
During his five months defending a hard line on authority and secularism as education minister – including banning girls in state schools from wearing abayas and experimenting with introducing school uniform – Attal had shot up the opinion polls as the most popular minister in government.
Macron wrote on X that he was counting on Attal’s energy and engagement to restore the spirit of 2017 – the year of Macron’s first election when he promised to revolutionise French politics.
