Gabriel Attal- France's youngest prime minister

By Elizabeth Pineau and Yiming Woo

January 9, 20249:59 PM GMT+6Updated 5 min ago

PARIS, Jan 9 (Reuters)

In an attempt to revitalize his second term, President Emmanuel Macron appointed Gabriel Attal as France's youngest prime minister on Tuesday. Attal pledged to be audacious and move quickly to assist the middle class in coping with the rising cost of living.

With the selection of Attal, 34, a well-liked and media-savvy rising star in French politics, Macron appears to be aiming to go past contentious changes and boost his centrist party's prospects in June's elections for the European Parliament.

"Dear @GabrielAttal, I know I can count on your energy and your commitment to implement the project of revitalisation and regeneration that I announced," Macron posted on social media following his appointment of the close ally and former government spokesman Attal.

The public's general dissatisfaction with rising living expenses and the controversial pension reform last year has negatively impacted Macron's standing and prospects in the EU election, where his party is well behind Marine Le Pen's far-right.

"I'm well aware of the context in which I take on this job," Attal stated.

"Too many French people have self-doubt about our future, our nation, or both. He promised to try to "control our destiny and free up France's potential," saying, "I think in particular of the middle class... who get up every morning to go to work... and sometimes can't make ends meet."

Macron, who no longer has a working majority in the legislature, has struggled to get his second term's reform plan passed and is now focusing on more cooperative goals like achieving full employment.

In recent months, surveys have shown Attal to be among the most well-liked politicians in France. A supporter of Macron, he gained notoriety as the government's spokesperson during the COVID-19 outbreak and was seen as a polished speaker.

When it comes to combined age, Macron, 46, and Attal are somewhat younger than Joe Biden, who is vying for a second term in this year's U.S. presidential election.

"The youngest prime minister in French history is being appointed by the youngest president in French history." Attal, the nation's first out gay prime minister, stated, "I want to see it as a symbol of audacity."

MORE DYNAMIC, OR MORE OF THE SAME?

Elisabeth Borne, 62, who was only the second woman to serve as prime minister of France, is replaced by Attal. Her year and a half in office was characterized by months of protests over the pension change and riots over the police shooting of a teenager of North African heritage. She was a dedicated and hardworking technocrat.

It might take Macron and Attal a few days to announce the new administration. According to an Elysee staffer, this week's Wednesday cabinet meeting is unlikely to happen.

Macron, who was reelected in 2022 but has found it difficult to govern in the more tumultuous legislature, had hinted that change was needed in recent weeks.

It appeared that some voters liked that.

Remi Blondel, an 81-year-old retiree, stated, "I think it's very good to have a young person... because it's a different concept, more dynamic."

Some voters and opponents, on the other hand, expressed skepticism, arguing that little would change because Macron makes the majority of the decisions.

"What can the French hope for from this fourth Prime Minister and this fifth government in seven years? Nothing," said Le Pen.

Attal is not only "young" but also "fits" nicely into the frame. But beyond that what does the reshuffle change for us? Personally, not much," Parisian Sophie Varillon said.

MP Patrick Vignal, belongs to Macron's Renaissance party, praised Attal, who according to him was "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, at the time a popular figure among voters.

Attal "is clear, he has authority", Vignal said.

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 all seen as potential candidates - alongside Attal.