The newly appointed French Prime Minister took the reins of governance, in a move to revitalize Emmanuel Macron’s political agenda and presidential mandate.
Gabriel Attal took over from Élisabeth Borne, who resigned on Monday. At just 34 years old, he is the youngest prime minister in French history.
Until now, the youngest Prime Minister of the 5th Republic had been Laurent Fabius, aged 37 when he was appointed by François Mitterrand in 1984.
“It was said in the last few hours, I read and heard it: The youngest President of the Republic in history appoints the youngest Prime Minister in history. I see it as a symbol of audacity and change. It is also, and perhaps above all, a symbol of trust. Trust in youth, a generation that deserves to be defended without excuses”, promised Attal.
Élisabeth Borne resigned as Prime Minister, in a period of great speculation about a possible governmental reshuffle, after 20 months marked by social protest and difficulties in advancing the presidential agenda.
Macron hopes that the young prime minister will be able to reinvigorate an executive worn down by the controversial measures of recent months in time to contain the growth of the far right in the country, which is poised to obtain a good result in this year’s European elections.