Emmanuel Macron has appointed the young, talented political figure Gabriel Attal as France’s prime minister in an effort to combat the growing popularity of the far right party ahead of the European parliamentary elections in June.
The far right in France, like in other parts of Europe, has been gaining ground due to economic struggles, unregulated immigration, and dissatisfaction with the ruling elite, which Macron had promised to change when he came into power in 2017.
However, Marine Le Pen, the leader of the far right party, has given her campaign a boost by appointing 28-year old Jordan Bardella to lead her European campaign team, putting her party up to 10 points ahead of Macron’s centrist Renaissance in the polls.
Macron’s team has become increasingly concerned about Bardella’s rising popularity in recent weeks.
After a video of Bardella being treated like a rock star at a food market went viral, Macron decided that someone needed to challenge Bardella’s appeal.
As a result, Attal, who at 34 is France’s youngest-ever prime minister, was appointed. He is known for his communication skills, debating abilities, and success in winning over conservative voters, a demographic that Macron is targeting.
“It was the best card the president had up his sleeve,” said IFOP pollster Jerome Fourquet on BFM TV. “He wants to counter Bardella’s rise, especially in view of the major political event later this year, the European elections.”
Attal’s first move as education minister was to ban the Muslim abaya dress in schools, earning praise from the influential right-wing media empire built by Vincent Bollore.
Macron’s success in the upcoming elections is important if he wants to maintain influence in the European Union (EU) and its policymaking. The last elections saw his party come close to RN’s success, giving both camps the same number of seats and allowing Macron’s party to influence the EU’s top jobs.
If RN outperforms Macron’s party, it would be a symbolic blow and reduce Macron’s influence on EU policies, especially with the loss of Spanish and Dutch lawmakers from his Renew grouping.
While Macron’s influence in Europe has grown with Britain’s departure and Angela Merkel’s retirement, the populist gains in other European countries pose a challenge to Macron’s European family’s influence in the EU parliament.
Some critics believe that Macron should focus more on domestic issues such as education and housing, which are growing concerns for the French people.
Attal’s ability to adapt to his new role as prime minister and bring France back to full employment, as well as address the collapse in civility and the growing societal fragmentation, remains to be seen.
Macron has prioritized policies aimed at addressing popular anxieties about crime, anti-social behavior, and the state of French democracy going forward.
However, addressing these longstanding issues will not be easy and will also require Attal to manage senior ministers with authority and determination.
Bardella, the far right leader, issued a warning to Attal, stating that Macron’s appointment was an attempt to boost his popularity and soften the blow during his presidency.
