As many Brits head into 2024 hoping for a new PM this year, France have already got the ball rolling.
Gabriel Attal replaced Élisabeth Borne as French Prime Minister on January 9th 2024. Borne resigned following a series of political upset over immigration laws that were seemingly pandering to the far right.
The refresh of the French party ‘Renaissance’ comes in preparation for the European parliament elections this summer, just before the Olympic Games in Paris. President Macron is the elected President of France, Attal is his own pick for PM. The two have been working closely in the Renaissance party, Attal’s previous role being the Education Minister.
Many also believe Macron is putting pieces in place for 2027, ensuring his legacy will be not be continued by Far Right politician Marine Le Pen. Le Pen apparently already ‘rules France’ and many French journalists view this new Prime Minister as a weak attempt to stop her. However, Attal may have to face the issues as his predecesscor.
Whilst he may seem to be an attempt at appeasing the Left who helped Macron secure his second Presidency, Attal was the Education Minister responsible for the banning of abayas in schools. This was a rule which caused extreme controversy not only in France, but across the world.
Comparison of Journalism:
French website ‘France 24’ have reported on the new PM, headline reading, “Gabriel Attal becomes France’s youngest and first openly gay premier.” They lead with his sexuality which has become a talking point for many publications this week, however, they don’t go into detail of it in the article. The piece focuses on Borne’s work and how this will all affect Macron and his party. It is heavily focused on the politics of them all and how it will affect France.
The BBC, a British publication, has taken a different approach to their journalism. Their headline reads, ‘Gabriel Attal: Macron’s pick for PM is France’s youngest at 34’, which is fairly absent in France 24’s article all together. Further into the piece, writer Hugh Schofield focuses heavily on the appearance and charisma of Gabriel Attal. He does not quote anyone here, writing, “Handsome, youthful, charming, popular, cogent.” It is interesting to read this in a publication that vows to be un-bias. The article reads almost like an opinion piece, lacking in political knowledge and filled with fluff.
The two publications are attacking the story differently. France want to know the politics and know where the people that represent them stand. Whereas the UK don’t have as much interest in all the political details and will be more interested in the ‘new young PM’.