“Attal show” or necessary exercise? We followed the new version of the questions to the government

“Questions to the head of government”, a question-and-answer exercise between deputies and Gabriel Attal, are being tested for five Wednesdays.

The first “questions to the head of government”, or the “Attal show” as the oppositions call it, took place on Wednesday April 3 at the National Assembly. 45 minutes of questions and answers between the deputies and Gabriel Attal, an exercise experienced over five Wednesdays, which the Prime Minister accepted. “Attal show” or necessary exercise?

The Prime Minister immediately praises this new formula for questions to the government: “I am delighted to see you again today. The President of the National Assembly asked me to answer questions in this new format. I always accept the proposals made to me regarding the accounts that I must render as Prime Minister vis-à-vis the national representation and the press.”

“I am delighted to be able to experiment with this new format. We will see if it can revive this Wednesday session.”

Gabriel Attal, Prime Minister

during questions to the head of government

The situation quickly became tense, with an attack coming from the ranks of the RN. “Your blindness, shared moreover with that of Emmanuel Macron, costs the French dearly. Even your majority doubts your choices, which today, it must be said, are close to the Requiem”asserts MP Sébastien Chenu.

Gabriel Attal offensive

The head of government is seizing the pole, while Gabriel Attal has sought in recent months to confront the National Rally which far exceeds the list of the majority in the European polls. “It’s always surprising to hear you talk about budgetary responsibility, you who only have the word spending on your mouth, you who propose to restore retirement to 60 years without explaining how you would finance it. You tell us about Mozart, about finance. With you, it would be the twilight of retirement and enchanted debt. This is the program of the National Rally”retorts the Prime Minister.

To a question from the left on the taxation of superprofits to finance France’s debt, Gabriel Attal took the opportunity to reiterate the line: “I remind you that it is this majority which has put in place a contribution on the infra-marginal income of energy companies and oil companies. And it is in this same logic that we are going to work, not to seek, as I can read it here or there, the Livret A or the savings of the French. The real difference between us and the oppositions in this hemicycle is that we will never attack the French who work, the fruits of their savings, the French people who have worked all their lives. That’s the real difference between you and us.” The Prime Minister wants to be offensive, unstoppable even when the opposition tries to interrupt him by shouting. All in front of standing majority deputies who applaud his interventions.

MPs divided

Among the deputies who want to be able to confront the head of government every Wednesday, there is in particular the RN who sees it as an issue of visibility. And among those who denounce the overexposure of Gabriel Attal, we find the left, deputies who denounce a spectacle, a narcissistic exercise. “It’s a tap dance act from the Prime Minister, it’s grand guignol, it’s a circus actaccording to Fabien Roussel, national secretary of the Communist Party and deputy from the North. We need precise answers on subjects linked to purchasing power, salaries, public services, health, schools, research, culture.”

“He wants to take the light, he wants to be at the heart, at the center of the great machine, but that is not possible.”

Fabien Roussel on Gabriel Attal

at franceinfo

A certain satisfaction is palpable in those around Gabriel Attal. Proof of this is this census of the majority deputies present, sent immediately to journalists: there are around sixty more than before this new formula, last week. Also note the presence of numerous journalists in the stands on a Wednesday, whereas it is the Tuesday session that usually attracts the crowds. The interest aroused by the novelty can therefore very quickly fade away.