What are Gabriel Attal’s positions?
Shortly after his election in 2017, an article in World already described Gabriel Attal as one of the “Macronie snipers”, young ambitious elected officials ready to step up to the plate in the media. The young man joined Emmanuel Macron’s movement, En Marche!, shortly after its launch in 2016.
Mr. Attal served as spokesperson, Minister of the Budget and Minister of National Education.
Applauded by some, criticized by others, he found himself at the heart of a debate a month after his appointment to Education, last summer, by announcing the ban on the abaya in schools, considering this loose coat worn by Muslim women as an ostensibly religious sign. Although Gabriel Attal came from the socialist ranks, he nevertheless attracted the wrath of the French left on several occasions, notably by denouncing the “culture strike” following walkouts and by defending a controversial bill on immigration.
“He’s someone who comes from the left, but he’s a “pragmatic” left, a left that has accepted the capitalist system without much problem, a social-democratic left, which some would say social-liberal,” explains on the phone Jean-Pierre Beaud, full professor in the department of political science at the University of Quebec in Montreal.
Gabriel Attal is also the first openly homosexual head of the French government and shares his life with Stéphane Séjourné, former political advisor to Emmanuel Macron.
Why was it chosen?
While rumors of a ministerial reshuffle were rife, Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne resigned on Monday from the position she had held for 20 months. The French president opted for his most popular elected official to replace her: Gabriel Attal was the favorite political figure of the French in December, according to the Ipsos barometer.Point.
PHOTO EMMANUEL DUNAND, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Élisabeth Borne and Gabriel Attal
“He managed to climb in the polls quite quickly, he passed through various ministries,” underlines Mr. Beaud. Everyone agrees that he wanted to do a lot of things – he may not have done them, but the daring, innovative, young side, I think that is the message that Emmanuel Macron wants to pass. He hopes to break away from a difficult period. »
A period marked by the adoption, last month, of a controversial law on immigration, seen as an “ideological victory” by the far right. As Emmanuel Macron’s party does not have an absolute majority in the National Assembly, modifications were made to the bill to rally right-wing elected officials, causing a crisis.
What challenges await the new prime minister?
The European elections will take place in June. As Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal finds himself at the forefront of this campaign. The National Rally (RN) is leading the polls, with its young president, Jordan Bardella, aged 28. “He is also a dynamic young man, a bit the equivalent of Gabriel Attal, who has the wind in his sails and who represents the future of the National Rally much more than Marine Le Pen,” believes Mr. Beaud, who expects Mr. Attal to be a “good debater” against Mr. Bardella during the campaign.
If Mr. Macron praised the “energy” and “commitment” of his new prime minister in a message on National Assembly, like its predecessor.
PHOTO TERESA SUAREZ, ASSOCIATED PRESS ARCHIVES
Emmanuel Macron, President of France
The President of the Republic will end his second term in 2027 and will therefore not be able to run again. In the same political line, Gabriel Attal could try to succeed him. But other ministers could also take the opportunity to stand out – the role of prime minister can be particularly thankless.
How was his nomination received?
Unlike his predecessor, who came from the administration and had a long career, Mr. Attal is above all a politician. “He is a real politician, as the French love them or hate them,” notes Mr. Beaud. He particularly appeals to older voters, attracted by the idea of breaking the old molds of politics.
If his open ambition and dynamism appeal to part of society, others have raised questions about his investment. On the side of the teaching unions, we particularly questioned his quick move to Education, wondering if he did not respond to personal aspirations rather than a real desire to change things.
On the opposition side, the nomination was not well received. “The French cannot hope for anything” from Attal, said the head of the RN deputies, Marine Le Pen. The leader of La France insoumise, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, commented that Attal “regains his position as spokesperson” and that “the presidential monarch governs alone with his court”.
With Agence France-Presse and The world