Gabriel Attal, openly gay, named as youngest-ever France Prime Minister

Gabriel Attal who banned Muslim Abaya named as youngest-ever France Prime Minister. Pic/AFP

Gabriel Attal, 34, has been named as youngest-ever France prime minister, signaling President Emmanuel Macron's effort to rejuvenate his presidency.

Attal, currently serving as the education minister, replaces Élisabeth Borne, who resigned after grappling with a lack of parliamentary majority during her 20-month tenure, reports said. Attal's swift rise from an obscure health ministry adviser to the country's leader showcases his remarkable journey in the past decade.

As the first openly gay occupant of Hôtel Matignon, Attal, in a civil partnership with MEP Stéphane Sejourné, takes on the crucial role of leading the French government into significant European Parliament elections in June, BBC reported. His political career took off after becoming a member of parliament following Macron's 2017 election, gaining attention for his eloquence as a debater.

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Attal's alignment with Macron's vision of breaking traditional left-right political divides positioned him as a key figure within the president's circle. His stint as government spokesman and later as education minister further solidified his standing, with notable actions like banning Muslim abaya robes in schools and advocating against bullying.