The president appoints modern France’s youngest prime minister
Can the 34-year-old Gabriel Attal revive Emmanuel Macron’s fortunes?
A constitutional perk enjoyed by modern French presidents is the right to dump their prime minister when in need of a fresh start. So Emmanuel Macron’s decision on January 8th to eject Elisabeth Borne, after little over 18 months in the job, was abrupt but not that surprising. Far more so was her replacement: Gabriel Attal, the 34-year-old education minister. Mr Attal will become France’s youngest modern prime minister.
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This article appeared in the Europe section of the print edition under the headline “A mini-Macron”
From the January 13th 2024 edition
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