“I take with me the cause of school”, “the mother of our battles”, assured Tuesday the new Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, during the transfer of power to Matignon with his predecessor Elisabeth Borne, also indicating that he would bring together the “living forces of the country” this week.
“I will have the objective of keeping control of our destiny and releasing our French potential”, also insisted the one whom the Head of State charged Tuesday morning with forming a new government, referring to “the mastery of our model social”, “solidarity between the French”, “authority” and “respect for others”.
Dear @Elisabeth_Borne, you were a Prime Minister of action and courage. Your personal history as much as your political ethics have made you an example.
We know what we owe you.
Thank you for everything. pic.twitter.com/6jLPTne52K
— Gabriel Attal (@GabrielAttal) January 9, 2024
A symbol of “audacity and movement”
The youngest head of government in the history of the Republic, 34 years old, saw in his appointment a symbol of “audacity and movement”. At the beginning and end of his speech, he thanked the Head of State, but also his three predecessors on rue de Varennes: Elisabeth Borne, Edouard Philippe and especially Jean Castex, for whom he was the spokesperson for his government and whom he explained that he had taught him “the functioning of Matignon, the demands of the task of Prime Minister and also the importance of ‘friendship in politics’.
The now former head of government, Elisabeth Borne, for her part considered having “held without trembling the course set by the President of the Republic”, during her handover speech. The one who, when she took office nineteen months ago, had dedicated her appointment to “all little girls” by advising them to go “to the end of their dreams”, also indicated on Tuesday “measure enough often that there is still a way to go for equality between women and men. “So, I say to all women: hold on, the future belongs to you,” she added.