Alexandre Chauveau / Photo credit: Bertrand GUAY / AFP
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2:18 p.m., January 9, 2024
Reactions are well underway in the political class after the appointment of Gabriel Attal as Prime Minister. Some welcome the meteoric rise of the former Minister of Education while others point the finger at his young age. At 34, he became the youngest head of government in the history of the Fifth Republic.
The suspense was finally lifted this Tuesday noon. Gabriel Attal, 34, was appointed Prime Minister by Emmanuel Macron. The now former Minister of National Education replaces Élisabeth Borne and thus becomes the youngest head of government in the history of the Fifth Republic.
The majority welcome the appointment of a popular and precociously talented Prime Minister. “I am sure that you will be able to faithfully carry our project and embody the values that are ours. The Renaissance deputies will be loyal and demanding allies to respond to the challenges of our country”, writes on ‘Assembly.
Congratulations @GabrielAttal.
I am sure that you will be able to faithfully carry out our project and embody the values that are ours.
THE @deputesRE will be loyal and demanding allies to respond to the challenges of our country and continue to reform, for the French. pic.twitter.com/AQZ5ZYAu8p
— Sylvain Maillard (@SylvainMaillard) January 9, 2024
“We will need a profound break with macronism”
On the right, Bruno Retailleau will judge on documents. “It is by his actions that we will judge Gabriel Attal,” he said. “This will require a profound break with macronism. Does he have the profile and the will? Response in the months to come”, reacts the boss of the LR senators who therefore does not condemn, in advance, the new tenant from rue de Varenne.
It is by his actions that we will judge Gabriel Attal. He will be a good Prime Minister if he manages to pursue a good policy for France: a policy of restoring public accounts, returning authority and rebuilding our collapsed public services. But he…
— Bruno Retailleau (@BrunoRetailleau) January 9, 2024
Jordan Bardella is much more pessimistic. “Emmanuel Macron wants to cling to the poll popularity of Gabriel Attal to alleviate the pain of an interminable end to his reign. He rather risks taking the ephemeral Minister of National Education with him in his fall,” asserts the young president of the RN who should find on his way the new majority leader for the European elections.
By appointing Gabriel Attal to Matignon, Emmanuel Macron wants to cling to his poll popularity to alleviate the pain of an interminable end to his reign.
Rather, he risks taking the short-lived Minister of National Education with him in his fall…
— Jordan Bardella (@J_Bardella) January 9, 2024
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the rebellious leader, also goes with his salvo on “The presidential monarch governs alone with his court. Woe to the people whose princes are children,” he adds.
Attal regains his position as spokesperson. The office of prime minister disappears. The presidential monarch governs alone with his court. Woe to the people whose princes are children.
— Jean-Luc Mélenchon (@JLMelenchon) January 9, 2024
Finally, Marine Le Pen believes, for her part, that the French can “hope nothing from Gabriel Attal” who describes a “childish ballet of ambitions and egos”.
What can the French hope for from this 4th Prime Minister and this 5th government in seven years? Nothing. Tired of this childish ballet of ambitions and egos, they are waiting for a project that puts them back at the heart of public priorities. This path towards alternation begins on June 9.
— Marine Le Pen (@MLP_officiel) January 9, 2024