TheCable

Gabriel Attal, France’s education minister, has been named as the country’s new prime minister.

French President Emmanuel Macron announced the 34-year-old’s appointment on Tuesday.

The history-making appointment sets Attal to be the youngest prime minister in the country.

He is also the first openly gay man to serve in the post – making him one of the world’s most prominent and powerful LGBTQ politicians.

During his tenure as education minister, Attal placed a controversial ban on the wearing of the abaya, loose-fitting full-length robes worn by Muslim women, in French public schools.

The former minister described the abaya as “a religious gesture, aimed at testing the resistance of the republic toward the secular sanctuary that school must constitute”.

He added that “secularism means the freedom to emancipate oneself through school”.

Attal also worked on raising awareness of bullying in schools and attempted to reform school uniforms.

Before heading the education ministry, he was the government spokesperson and later served as minister of public works and public accounts.

“I know I can count on your energy and your commitment to implement the rearmament and regeneration project that I announced,” Macron tweeted, after the announcement.

So far, polls show that he is by far the most admired member of the Macron administration — a government fast losing popularity among French nationals owing to the strict pension and migration reforms.

Analysts say Macron’s move to get Attal on board is an attempt to boost popularity before the European parliament elections in June.

As prime minister, Attal will oversee a new government and ensure the passage of legislation that advances the president’s agenda.

He replaces Elisabeth Borne, who resigned from her post on Monday after a tumultuous 20-month tenure.