China News Service Paris, January 11 (Xinhua) -- France's 34-year-old new Prime Minister Attar: Referring to the "post-Macron era"?
China News Service reporter Li Yang.
France** Macron appointed Gabriel Attar, the 34-year-old minister of national education and youth, as prime minister on January 9, which has attracted widespread attention inside and outside France. Attar is considered the youngest prime minister of the French Fifth Republic since its inception in 1958. He was entrusted with a heavy responsibility at such a young age, what is so special about him? What role is he expected to play in the future?
Atal attends a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris on July 4, 2022. Photo by China News Service reporter Li Yang.
Like most French people, journalists first learned about Attar when he was the spokesman for France. Attar served as the spokesperson from 2020 to 2022, during the coronavirus pandemic, and many specific epidemic prevention policies were officially announced by him on his behalf, which gained popularity among the public.
In the second half of 2021, taking advantage of the slight easing of the epidemic, the reporter had the opportunity to visit the office of the spokesperson of France** and met Attar. He was about to leave by car, but when he saw our group, he stopped to show us about his office, an elegant courtyard, and wished everyone a great time there, before he left. Those present could feel his honesty and affinity.
Attar's high level of public support is inseparable from his affinity. According to an Ipsos poll at the end of last year, Attar's approval rating climbed to 40 percent, making him the most popular politician in France. At the same time, Macron's approval rating is less than 30%; Atal's predecessor, Borne, led the push for controversial retirement reforms and new immigration laws, with his approval rating falling to 24 percent.
Attar has a lot of energy and is also a big strength for him. After attending the handover ceremony with Bornet on 9 July, he immediately set off from the Prime Minister's Office to the Calais department in northern France to inspect the local disaster situation. On 10 July, accompanied by Interior Minister Darmanin, he went to Elmont-Aubonne, a town in the northern suburbs of Paris, to inspect the local police station, stressing the city's security and order.
Atal has been in close contact with Macron almost every day this week and has traveled to the ** mansion several times to dine with Macron. France** believes that Macron and Atal are bound to talk about the formation of a new cabinet, the selection of ministers and other important issues. Macron still plays a key role in the next ** personnel layout, which is undoubtedly of special significance for the future Atal **.
Atal and Macron have always had a close relationship. After Macron took office in 2017, Atal moved between the ruling party and the top of the party, and successively held a number of important positions. Due to the fact that he had more working contacts with Macron's wife Brigitte during his tenure as education minister, Atal was also highly praised by Mrs. ** on the 10th, with Brigitte describing him as "brave" and "bold".
Whether Attar can inherit the mantle of Macron's 2017 election in the "post-Macron era" and play the role of impacting the throne is an issue that many political analysts are paying close attention to. Attar has moved into the Palazzo Matíon (Chancellery), so how far is it from staying at the Élysée Palace? According to **, as early as 2012, when Atar was 23 years old and still studying at Sciences Po in Paris, his classmates thought that he would be the future **, which shows that his political ability has emerged very early.
The next edition of France is in 2027, when Attar will be 38 years old. Macron was elected at the age of 39. The top of the ruling party has long ago proposed the need to plan for 2027 and "cultivate responsible people as soon as possible". At the moment, Atal seems to be one of the ideal candidates for the ruling party and Macron.
However, Attar's most important task now is to form a cabinet team as soon as possible, so that the new ** will be motivated and energized to deal with a number of pressing challenges. In addition, he will have to deal with the opposition parties in the French parliament and continue to try to bridge the divide between different political factions. Attar's path to prime minister did not seem easy from the start. (ENDS).