Emmanuel Macron, the French President, has designated Gabriel Attal as the new prime minister of the country, marking him as the youngest and the first openly gay individual to assume the role.
The 34-year-old, who has served as the education minister, was appointed to the position on Tuesday.
Gabriel Attal, considered one of the nation’s most popular politicians based on recent polls, takes over from Elisabeth Borne, the outgoing prime minister, who resigned as part of a cabinet reshuffle on Monday.
Macron’s decision to bring Attal into the role is seen as an effort to infuse fresh energy into the final three years of his presidency, following a challenging year marked by contentious pension and immigration reforms in 2023.
In the French political system, the president appoints the prime minister, who is accountable to the parliament.
Attal’s responsibilities include overseeing the implementation of domestic policies, particularly economic measures, and coordinating the government’s ministerial team.
The move is viewed as a strategic step by Macron to bolster his popularity ahead of the European Parliament elections in June.
Attal oversaw the ban on Muslim abaya robes in schools, which saw global outrage.
