The new prime minister of France is 34 years old. former Minister of Education G.Attalis

Attalis, 34, will become the youngest and first openly homosexual French prime minister.

He replaces Elisabeth Borne, who resigned the day before, as prime minister.

President Macron accepted the resignation of Borne, 62, after less than two years on the job on Monday, ahead of a widely-anticipated cabinet reshuffle aimed at breathing new life into his final three years in office.

The reshuffle comes ahead of the Paris Olympics and European Parliament elections, in which Macron’s centrist forces risk losing to the party led by far-right leader Marine Le Pen.

A wider cabinet reshuffle is expected to be unveiled this week.

“The President of the Republic has appointed Gabriel Attali as Prime Minister and tasked him with forming a government,” the president’s statement said.

Attalis is expected to bring a major change in style to the post of prime minister after Borne, who is only the second woman to head a French government.

Her austerity and austerity earned her the respect of her colleagues, but not necessarily the popularity of the public, and Attalis is the most popular figure in the government.

AFP/Scanpix/French President Emmanuel Macron

Confirming the move on X, the president said he wanted the new prime minister to bring back the spirit of bold change from when Macron first took office in 2017 with hopes of radical reform.

“I know I can count on your energy and commitment,” Macron said, adding that the new prime minister would act in the spirit of 2017’s “competence and audacity.”

Borne’s resignation on Monday night was expected to be followed by Attalis, and the fact that the new prime minister’s name was not immediately announced fueled talk that key government figures were unhappy with the politician’s rapid promotion.

But sources close to the so-called sources of tension, including Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin and Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, strongly denied this.

“Just as fragile as ever”

AFP/Scanpix photo/Elisabeth Borne and Emmanuel Macron

Borne’s resignation letter to Macron, a copy of which was seen by the AFP news agency, suggests that she would have preferred to remain in her post.

“Although I have to tender my resignation from my government, I wanted to tell you how passionately I have been involved in this mission,” she wrote.

Analysts see the reshuffle as crucial to improving Macron’s image in the final three years of his term.

Since defeating Le Pen in the 2022 election to win a second term, Macron has faced protests over unpopular pension reforms, disagreements over immigration legislation and lost his overall majority in parliamentary elections.

Although Macron cannot run again in the 2027 presidential election, his efforts to renew the government are seen as crucial to preventing Ms Le Pen from becoming head of state.

Conservative daily Le Figaro said Mr Borne leaves a political situation “which remains as fragile as ever”.

“Changing the leader will not change the big picture,” the paper said, adding that Mr Borne’s successor faces “a huge stack of immediate political tasks”, including the task of uniting a divided nation.

“Offensive Strategy”

Under the French system, the president sets overall policy and the prime minister is responsible for the day-to-day running of the government, so the latter often bears responsibility when the administration is in turmoil.

The June European Parliament elections will be a serious test, as E. Macron’s “Renaissance” party faces a confrontation with M. Le Pen’s “National Unification” (RN).

Before the European Parliament elections, he faces another rising star in French politics, the even younger Jordan Bardella, just 28, who currently leads the RN.

Constitutional law expert Benjamin Morel told AFP that G. Attali’s appointment shows “a very offensive strategy in the run-up to the European Parliament elections in June”.

But political scientist Bruno Cautres said it “will not solve either the majority problem or the main problem – where Macron’s mandate is heading”.

It is also unclear who will occupy other important posts. Perhaps the most attention-grabbing is 41-year-old right-winger Gerald Darmanin, who is said to be seeking to replace Catherine Colonna as foreign minister.

The new head of government will be the fourth prime minister since 2017, when E. Macron is at the helm of the state.

Congratulating the new French Prime Minister, I. Šimonytė hopes to develop military cooperation

Congratulating the newly appointed Prime Minister of France, G. Attal, Prime Minister of Lithuania Ingrida Šimonytė says that she hopes to develop military and economic cooperation between the countries.

Paulius Peleckis photo. Ingrid Šimonytė

“We are interested in further developing a strategic bilateral dialogue with France as one of Lithuania’s most important partners, and we are also ready to further strengthen economic cooperation, together protect and nurture European values, seek sustainable growth, international peace and stability wherever we can, from Europe to the Sahel region”, said I. Šimonytė in a statement released by the Government on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister expressed hope for further joint work in strengthening NATO’s eastern flank and added that she believes that this year’s joint cultural season between Lithuania and France will further strengthen the ties between the two countries.

“In the face of the shocking and brutal Russian war against Ukraine, it is more important than ever for the EU and NATO countries to focus on supporting the heroic efforts of Ukraine to defend not only its independence and territorial integrity, but also the European security order and the values ​​of the entire democratic world,” said I.Šimonytė.

“France’s firm and principled stance and support for Ukraine brings Ukraine closer to victory and peace, just as our support for Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations only strengthens us all,” she added.

Attali was appointed to the new position on Tuesday by French President Emmanuel Macron.

He replaces Elisabeth Borne, who resigned the previous day. The 34-year-old politician, who until now headed the Ministry of Education, will become the youngest and first openly homosexual Prime Minister of France.