At just 34 years old, Gabriel Attal made history by becoming the youngest and first openly gay French prime minister in January 2024. His meteoric rise from junior minister to head of state is a testament to his dynamic approach to politics. Attal’s tenure has been marked by major challenges, including his pivotal role in the 2024 parliamentary elections and a notable visit to Ukraine to explore his ancestral roots.
Childhood and education
Gabriel Attal was born on March 16, 1989, in Clamart, Île-de-France, and grew up in the 13th and 14th arrondissements of Paris, surrounded by his three sisters. His father, Yves Attal, was a lawyer and film producer, and his mother, Marie de Couriss, worked for a film production company. Raised in his mother’s Orthodox Christian faith, he comes from a mixed religious background, with a Jewish father and a Russian Orthodox Christian mother.
Attal excelled academically. He attended the École Alsacienne in Paris, where he earned a baccalaureate with honors in 2007. He then studied law at the Université Panthéon-Assas and earned a Master’s degree in Public Affairs from Sciences Po in 2012. During his university years, he also completed an internship with Éric de Chassey at the French Academy in Rome. His political involvement began early, with his participation in the 2006 youth protests in France. He subsequently founded a support committee at Sciences Po for Ingrid Betancourt, a prominent French-Colombian hostage.
Career
Beginnings in politics
Gabriel Attal began his political career at a very young age. In 2006, at the age of 17, he joined the Socialist Party (PS) and worked as a parliamentary assistant to Marisol Touraine, an influential political figure. He then left the PS to support Emmanuel Macron’s presidential campaign in 2016. In 2017, Attal was elected to the National Assembly, representing the 10th constituency of Hauts-de-Seine.
He served as spokesperson for La République En Marche! (LREM) from January to October 2018. In October 2018, he was appointed Secretary of State for Youth under the Minister of National Education and Youth, Jean-Michel Blanquer. Attal’s rapid rise in French politics is notable for his early involvement and rapid progression through various government roles.
Member of the National Assembly (2017–2018)
Gabriel Attal was elected to the National Assembly on June 18, 2017, representing the 10th constituency of Hauts-de-Seine, defeating André Santini’s designated successor. Recognized as one of the most promising deputies alongside Amélie de Montchalin, he joined the Committee on Cultural Affairs and Education. He also became whip of the LREM group.
In December 2017, Attal was appointed rapporteur for a bill on access to higher education. He became president of LREM in January 2018. In September 2018, he ran to succeed Richard Ferrand as president of the group, but withdrew his candidacy the day before the election, supporting Roland Lescure instead.
Minister (2018–2024)
Gabriel Attal, born March 16, 1989, in Clamart, France, is a French politician known for his rapid rise through various government roles. He began his political career in October 2018 as Secretary of State for National Education and Youth under Jean-Michel Blanquer. At only 29 years old, he became the youngest member of the Fifth Republic government. He focuses on youth affairs and the implementation of universal national service.
From July 2020 to May 2022, Attal served as government spokesperson under Prime Minister Jean Castex, responsible for communicating government policies and decisions to the public. In May 2022, he became Minister of Public Action and Accounts in the government of Élisabeth Borne, overseeing public finances and government spending.
In July 2023, Attal was appointed Minister of National Education and Youth, becoming the youngest person to hold this position in French history. He implemented significant policies, including the banning of the abaya in public schools to preserve secularism.
His political career reached new heights when he was appointed Prime Minister of France on January 9, 2024, following the resignation of Élisabeth Borne, becoming the youngest and first openly gay Prime Minister in the country’s history. However, his tenure was marked by challenges, including a significant defeat in the 2024 European Parliament elections, which led to his resignation in September 2024 after a poor performance in the parliamentary elections.
Prime Minister (2024)
Gabriel Attal served as Prime Minister of France from January to September 2024, becoming the youngest and first openly gay Prime Minister to hold the office. Born on March 16, 1989, in Clamart, France, he has diverse roots and studied at the prestigious Sciences Po University. Attal began his political career with the Socialist Party in 2006 before joining La République En Marche! (LREM) in 2016.
He was elected to the National Assembly in 2017 and held several ministries, including National Education and Youth in 2023. Appointed Prime Minister by President Emmanuel Macron on January 9, 2024, Attal seeks to revitalize the government in the face of political challenges.
However, after disappointing results in the June 2024 European Parliament elections, Macron dissolved the National Assembly, leading to early elections where Attal’s coalition faced a fragmented parliament. He resigned on July 16, 2024, but remained in office on an interim basis until a new government was formed.
After his resignation, Attal became the leader of the Renaissance party in the National Assembly, continuing to influence French politics and advocating for reforms aimed at simplifying administrative processes.
After the Prime Minister’s office (2024–present)
On September 5, 2024, President Macron appointed Michel Barnier as the new Prime Minister of France. At the handover ceremony the following day, Gabriel Attal expressed his frustration at having served only eight months as Prime Minister, a term he felt was too short to fully implement his plans. After stepping down as Prime Minister, Attal took over as leader of Macron’s party in the National Assembly.
Privacy
Gabriel Attal, the Prime Minister of France, is openly gay. He was previously in a civil partnership with Stéphane Séjourné, a Member of the European Parliament and Secretary-General of Macron’s political party, Renaissance. However, they are no longer together, and Attal has not publicly confirmed any new relationships. To date, Gabriel Attal has neither a wife nor children.
Gabriel Attal’s net worth
As of 2025, Gabriel Attal has an estimated net worth of approximately $5 million. This wealth comes primarily from his political career, including his roles as Minister of National Education and Youth. Additionally, Attal holds shares in a real estate company, which owns approximately $1.3 million in real estate.
