World News: Macron Names New Prime Minister Hoping to Reinvigorate His Government

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Category: World News - Europe

Published on Tuesday, 09 January 2024 13:41

Written by Olivier Longhi

French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Gabriel Attal, 34, as the nation's newest Prime Minster, replacing Elizabeth Borne, who resigned after 20 months. Attal, the first openly gay prime minster is also the youngest ever to hold the position.

The next Prime Minister, and with him the new government, will have the task of relaunching a five-year term on the verge of immobility. But who among the most questionable politicians will be able to take up such a challenge?

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The temptation is great when a five-year term runs out of steam to push towards the exit, with an avalanche of thanks that one wonders whether they exude sincerity or exude hypocrisy, the Government in place, led by the Prime Minister.

This is the scenario that President Macron is facing today and in the coming hours. Its Prime Minister, in the opinion of all observers, worn out to the bone and who certainly made his last stand during the vote on the Immigration law last December, has therefore resigned.

Like the condemned man walking blindfolded on the gangway that ends in emptiness (except that in this case there was no blindfold), Elizabeth Borne knew her fate was sealed. Surely. She had been at the start for several days, but no warning sign had left room for the shadow of an interpretation. From now on, outside the political game, the ritualo-constitutional question arises: who will replace her? Some will argue that there is no shortage of suitors.

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Political and Symbolic

But President Macron, anxious to relaunch his mandate in order to conclude it in the best conditions, will look for a successor worthy of his trust and here, on the other hand, the list is considerably reduced.

However, the choice of a successor will be eminently and both political and symbolic. Coming from the left wing of the presidential movement, and the five-year term will take a more social orientation, coming from the right wing, a more liberal connotation.

At the same time, it is also clear that the mediocrity of politicians leaves little room for options in view of the issues at stake. Because it will be necessary at the same time to contain the rise of extremes and to satisfy the working classes without hurting or offending unions and employers.

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Nothing but very normal, one could argue, but the political physiognomy of the country is such that the exercise that was still routine ten or fifteen years ago is now a real challenge. And whoever takes it up will be called upon to suffer in what many former Prime Ministers called Matignon's hell.

Out of Order

However, President Macron's choice will be dissected and analyzed in all its forms, if only to try to understand the course of action of a somewhat disoriented executive. Long master of the game, Emmanuel Macron now finds himself at the helm of a ship that has failed to have a rudder but also a precise course, the latter perhaps being worse than the first, but between the plague and cholera... Brief!

In the end, Gabriel Attal, Elizabeth Borne's successor and the ministers who will accompany her will have the task of reviving an already tired mandate, exhausted by the "at the same time" dear to the President who, through this reshuffle, seeks above all not to fall into immobility, he who twice was elected precisely on the idea of fighting this inertia specific to the old world which nevertheless keeps coming back to him.

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Bio: Olivier Longhi has extensive experience in European history. A seasoned journalist with fifteen years of experience, he is currently professor of history and geography in the Toulouse region of France. He has held a variety of publishing positions, including Head of Agency and Chief of Publishing. A journalist, recognized blogger, editor, and editorial project manager, he has trained and managed editorial teams, worked as a journalist for various local radio stations, a press and publishing consultant, and a communications consultant.