Young, successful and popular. It seems that Emmanuel Macron has found in Gabriel Attal the ideal recipe to season his political action. And, even more, to give new impetus to this second five-year term which is losing momentum, undermined by the difficult pension reform and the very controversial immigration law.
Especially since the upcoming deadlines seem decisive for the rest of his mandate: European elections, Paris Olympic Games… Not to mention the numerous works undertaken on the end of life, full employment or even the overhaul of National Education … In summary, the new Prime Minister takes the reins of a five-year term in full swing.
First priority: form a government
To succeed, he will need a robust, united and docile team. And to design the architecture, Gabriel Attal can count on Emmanuel Macron. This is how, after a quick trip to Nord-Pas-de-Calais, on Tuesday afternoon, the new Prime Minister joined the man “to whom he owes everything”. Dinner is late. And drags on. Midnight has already struck when Elisabeth Borne’s successor leaves the Château.
Several names were mentioned, including that of Marie-Hélène Thoraval, mayor of Romans-sur-Isère, or that of Claire Chazal, it is understood Le Figaro. The former presenter of the 8 p.m. news on TF1 could replace Rima Abdul Malak at Culture. Because just like her Quai d’Orsay colleague Catherine Colonna, the minister is in the hot seat.
In contrast to Gérald Darmanin who did not hesitate to let it be known on Tuesday evening that Emmanuel Macron had “reaffirmed his confidence” in him. And that he was thus “guaranteed” to stay in Beauvau. Not so sure, however… according to the latest information from our colleagues at Figaro.
Second priority: establish authority… contested
Once the team is formed, the hardest part is yet to come. For the government machine to run, Gabriel Attal must degrease the cogs. Within Macronie, the “child prodigy” is not very appreciated. Too lonely, too good a student, too opportunistic. It is therefore no surprise that a revolt was organized when the idea of naming it rue de Varenne arose. François Bayrou, Edouard Philippe and even the secretary general of the Elysée Alexis Kohler would, according to our information, have tried to dissuade the President of the Republic.
In The Parisian this Wednesday, January 10, the president of the MoDem corrects: “I raised two questions. The first: leaving the Ministry of Education when we have just returned and we have given birth to hope was for me a problem. The second was that of the experience necessary to be at the head of the government of a country which is going through such profound difficulties.” It is said.
The fact remains that there is no secret of the exasperation caused behind the scenes by the promotion of the youngest member of the government. Thought for Gérald Darmanin, who has been eyeing Matignon for months. The Minister of the Interior also came close to obtaining the keys to rue de Varenne during the reshuffle carried out this summer. There is also Bruno Le Maire. Although the Minister of the Economy sings from the rooftops that he likes Bercy, it is difficult to see him refusing a position for which he has been approached more than once.
This Tuesday, it is once again not him that the President of the Republic knights. But his former subordinate. Camouflage, which he did not hesitate to return, through barely disguised sarcasm. It is therefore not certain that the Minister of the Economy will agree to comply with the directives of his former disciple. Provided that he is confirmed in his position.
It must be admitted: for him as for the others, being directed by his 34-year-old junior is somewhat irritating. Some people might be tempted to give him a hard time. In a word, as in 100, Gabriel Attal will have to redouble his efforts, humility and diligence to succeed in being accepted by his elders who, obviously, do not hold him in their hearts.
Third priority: unite a weakened majority
Close ranks. The mission is also one of its priorities. But it will not be easy. Like Elisabeth Borne Prime Minister in her early days, Gabriel Attal will have to deal with the heavy burden of a relative majority. But in the meantime, the task got tougher. The Immigration bill left the new tenant of rue de Varenne with a fractured relative majority, who came close to losing his left leg last December.
Gabriel Attal will therefore not be able to simply “make do” with it. He will have to unite his parliamentary group beforehand, taking care not to dance too much on his right leg at the risk of causing ants in the other. A real balancing act which will have to be coupled with a rapprochement with Les Républicains, whose votes he knows how useful he could be.
Fourth priority: don’t drop out of school
Taking “the mother of our battles” to Matignon: “the cause of the school”. He committed to this during the transfer of power this Tuesday. And rightly so. Because after having made announcements at a rapid pace for almost six months, Gabriel Attal must be careful not to leave the impression of leaving the Ministry of National Education having promised more butter than bread.
If some projects have been completed or have been vigorously initiated, many are still at the stage of simple announcements. On these, everything remains to be done. “It’s a bit as if Gabriel Attal had thrown several coins in the air. Now, they will have to fall. Which way? That’s the question we ask ourselves”, asks, to L’Express, Sophie Vénétitay, general secretary of Snes-FSU, the majority union of secondary school teachers.
To this day, the question of its replacement is on everyone’s lips. And the suspense remains. The three ministers who passed through rue de Grenelle got the better of the enthusiasm generated by Emmanuel Macron’s candidacy in 2016. “These permanent changes give us the impression of being in a laundry machine that never stops,” sighs Bruno Bobkiewicz, president of SNPDEN-Unsa, the main management staff union. Never mind, Gabriel Attal hammered it home: “I will always be at your side”…
Fifth priority: catching up in the race for the Europeans
The clock master, according to the established formula, sees the hands turning. The European vote is getting closer every day. By entrusting Matignon with a very political profile, the head of state also wanted to give a boost to a campaign which is slipping on the side of the presidential camp. The expected head of the list, Stéphane Séjourné, has still not been invested by Renaissance. And the rivalry is gaining ground.
In addition, the Macronist party, which is struggling to reach 20% of voting intentions, could see itself siphoned off votes by the list of the social democrat Raphaël Glucksmann. Even more so after the Immigration law, a symbol of a right-wing shift, which was able to unsettle Emmanuel Macron’s historic electorate.
On the other side of the political spectrum, the National Rally stands at 29%. Far ahead of Renaissance. The clock is ticking. And it is urgent to slow down the progression of Jordan Bardella. The young president of the National Rally is among the fifty favorite personalities of the French, according to the ranking of the JDD. And masters the art of political communication at his fingertips. He had to find a challenger. By appointing Gabriel Attal to Matignon, Emmanuel Macron did it.