Overview

• Gabriel Attal, 34, has been appointed as France's youngest-ever and first openly gay prime minister by President Emmanuel Macron.
• Attal, who was previously the government spokesperson and education minister, is expected to continue Macron’s second-term agenda, which has shifted to the right to appeal to conservative voters.
• His appointment comes amid growing political pressure from the far right, with Marine Le Pen’s anti-immigration National Rally party gaining influence and polling ahead of Macron’s centrists for the upcoming European parliament elections.
• Attal's challenges include breaking the political deadlock in the French parliament, where Macron’s centrists lost their majority in 2022, and managing controversial issues such as immigration and pension reforms.
• Despite his popularity, critics have questioned Attal's limited experience and his ability to pass major legislation, given the political maneuvering required in the current parliament.