Gabriel Attal was named the new French Prime Minister, making history.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced his appointment of the 34-year-old rising star on Tuesday following the resignation of former prime minister Élisabeth Borne a day earlier. Attal is now the youngest and first openly gay man to play the role, according to CNN.
Macron congratulated Attal on Xformerly known as Twitter, writing in French, “I know I can count on your energy and your commitment…” Macron said in a tweet that Attal would revive “the spirit of 2017,” referring to the year he was elected president.
“I could read and hear: the youngest president of the Republic in history appoints the youngest prime minister in history. I want to see it only as a symbol of courage and movement. It is also, and perhaps above all, a symbol of trust in young people,” Macron (46) said during the handover ceremony, the Associated Press reports.
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During the ceremony, Attal pledged to strengthen the country’s school and health systems and push for “better immigration control,” according to the media outlet. He also noted that his “absolute priority” will be to increase security in France.
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Attal rose to political prominence after being hired in July as minister of national education and youth in Macron’s Renaissance party.
Over the past few months, he has worked to raise awareness about bullying in schools, but has also made some calls that have been seen as controversial, including banning students from wearing the abaya – a robe-like garment commonly worn by those in Muslim cultures – in France’s public school system.
Joe and Jill Biden welcome French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte to a state dinner
In addition to his work, Attal stood out among other party members for his communication skills and ability to ask difficult questions from parliament, according to Guard. The survey ranked him as the most popular minister in Macron’s government, reports AP.
Attal was previously Secretary of State in the Ministry of Education, Minister of Public Works and Public Accounts, and Government Spokesman.
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His appointment came shortly after Borneo’s resignation, prompted after an immigration bill was passed last month to strengthen the country’s stance on deporting illegal immigrants. Under her tenure, Borne, 62, also oversaw the passage of an unpopular law raising the country’s retirement age from 62 to 64, which led to mass protests across the country.
Macron announced on Twitter a day earlier that he had accepted her resignation letter, writing to X that she was “exemplary every day”.
He added: “You implemented our project with statesmanlike courage, commitment and determination. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
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Source: HIS Education