France’s youngest-ever and first openly gay Prime Minister Gabriel Attal unveiled an ambitious agenda, promising to address key concerns such as boosting employment, restoring authority in schools, and supporting protesting farmers facing financial challenges.
In a dynamic address to the National Assembly, Attal, appointed by President Emmanuel Macron, asserted upon his commitment to creating more employment opportunities. He pledged to ensure that “work pays more” than “inactivity” and announced measures to encourage fair wages for workers earning the minimum salary, coupled with tax cuts for middle-class households.
Attal outlined plans for jobless individuals receiving state-sponsored “solidarity income,” requiring them to engage in 15 hours of “activities” like job training or internships starting next year. He stressed the importance of combating unemployment and rejected the notion of allowing “the right to be lazy.”
Expressing solidarity with disgruntled farmers, Attal promised emergency cash aid and increased controls on imported food to address the ongoing protests that have seen tractors blocking highways across France.
In his capacity as the former Education Minister, Attal stressed on school reforms, including uniform experimentation to reduce bullying, limiting screen time for children, and introducing a “sentence of community service” for those under 16 who require sanctions.
To tackle bureaucratic challenges, Attal pledged to “de-bureaucratise France,” addressing concerns from farmers, employers, and local officials about excessive red tape.
In healthcare, he proposed appointing a special envoy to attract foreign doctors to France and suggested implementing measures where patients would pay for missed medical appointments, addressing concerns raised by healthcare professionals.
Attal urged his administration to set an example by experimenting with a four-day workweek, offering employees the option to have an additional day off while working the same amount of time. He advocated for improved working conditions for cleaning staff such as daytime schedules instead of nighttime shifts.
“To be French in 2024 is to live in a country” fighting for “stability, justice, and peace,” Attal concluded, highlighting the vision for a progressive France. He acknowledged the progress by stating, “To be French in 2024 means being able to be Prime Minister while being openly gay,” referencing the nation’s evolution in attitudes toward LGBTQ+ representation.
