Gabriel Attal, who served as France’s youngest prime minister in 2024 at age 34, announced on May 22 that he will run for president in the April 2027 election [1, 2, 3, 4]. The 37-year-old declared his bid in Mur-de-Barrez, a small village of about 700 people in southern France, saying, “正因為我深愛著法國與法國人民，我決定成為共和國總統的候選人,” expressing his deep love for France and its people [4].
Attal rose quickly in politics after entering parliament in 2017. He served as government spokesperson, budget minister, and education minister before becoming prime minister under Emmanuel Macron in January 2024 [2, 3]. His term was short due to Macron’s party losing its majority in the parliamentary elections mid-2024, leading to political gridlock and Attal’s resignation as caretaker prime minister in September 2024 [2, 3, 4].
Attal is currently secretary-general and parliamentary group leader of Macron’s Renaissance party. Openly gay, he has publicly discussed his personal life, including a romantic relationship with EU Commissioner Séjourné [2, 3]. Addressing the political climate, Attal criticized France’s politics as “just 50 shades of managing decline,” signaling a desire for change and stronger local engagement beyond the Paris political sphere [1, 2, 3]. “如果我们一直被困在巴黎的办公室里，困在各个部会里，那么政治也就停止了,” he said, emphasizing grassroots involvement [2].
Attal faces a crowded field including former prime minister Edouard Philippe, leftist Jean-Luc Mélenchon, and far-right contenders Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella [1, 2, 3, 4]. Le Pen, aged 57, is currently constitutionally barred from running due to a five-year ban over funds misuse, with an appeals court decision expected in July 2026; Bardella, 30, may replace her if the ban holds [4]. Philippe, 55, leads the center-right Horizon party and is seen in some polls as having better chances against the far-right than Attal [2].
Attal aims to strengthen centrist support in rural France to counter far-right gains [1, 2, 3]. He will turn 38 in March 2027, shortly before the presidential election scheduled for April 2027 [1, 2, 3, 4].
