Seeking to inject new energy into his flagging presidency, French President Emmanuel Macron has named 34-year-old Gabriel Attal as prime minister. The move comes as Macron's centrist coalition trails the far-right National Rally party headed by Marine Le Pen in polls before European elections.
Attal, previously education minister, is seen as a strong debater capable of confronting the National Rally. His youth mirrors that of the National Rally's 28-year-old lead candidate Jordan Bardella. The choice of Attal aims to present a fresh face for Macron's struggling government.
However, Attal will face the difficult task of passing legislation without a parliamentary majority. And his meteoric rise could hasten speculation about a successor to Macron. Nonetheless, his nomination resolves questions over who will lead the centrists' European election campaign against the ascendant French far-right.