Macron appoints ‘Word Sniper’ France’s youngest PM

Newly-appointed French prime minister Gabriel Attal is 34. Waldemar Pawlak, below, was just 32 when he was Polish prime minister in 1992

Marche. He is in a civil partnership with fellow politician, MEP Stéphane Sejourné.

In a welcome message to Mr Attal, President Macron wrote on social media: “I know I can count on your energy and your commitment to implement the project of revitalisation and regeneration that I announced.”

Known for being outspoken, Mr Attal has earned the nickname the Word Sniper among his peers. His appointment follows almost two years in the role by 62-year-old Élisabeth Borne, who quit on Monday.

Mr Macron’s party is facing a tough few months ahead with the European elections looming in June. The far-right opposition party of Marine Lepen is performing strongly against Mr Macron’s government, which also has no majority in the National Assembly, making it difficult to pass new laws.

Speaking outside his new residence after his appointment, Mr Attal said: “France will never rhyme with decline, France rhymes with transformation, France rhymes with audacity.”

Recent Finnish prime minister Sanna Marin, who held the role from 2019 to 2023, was also 34 when she took up the position, making her the world’s youngest serving prime minister at the time. Meanwhile, Poland’s Waldemar Pawlak was just 32 when he first became prime minister in 1992.

Sebastian Kurz, of Austria, was a year younger at 31 when he became chancellor. He has served two non-consecutive terms in the role, the first in 2017 to 2019 and the second in 2020 and 2021.

Jacinda Ardern, of New Zealand, was 37 when she first took up the position of prime minister. She also gave birth while in office and made history as the first world leader to attend the United Nations general assembly meeting with her baby in tow.

Closer to home, William Pitt the Younger was the youngest prime minister ever appointed in England at 24. However, this was in the 18th century, when life expectancy was far less than today. He served from 1783 until the Acts of Union in 1800 and then became first prime minister of the United Kingdom. He had a second term as leader from 1804 until his death in 1806.