“No desire to work for a 34-year-old kid”: why the appointment of Gabriel Attal as Prime Minister was delayed ?

Bruno Le Maire et Gérald Darmanin à l'Assemblée nationale le 22 novembre 2022. EPA – CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON

Ce mardi 9 janvier 2024, Gabriel Attal vient d'être nommé Premier ministre et succède à Elisabeth Borne. Mais si cette nomination a tardé, c'est car cette dernière a été contestée.

The resignation of Elisabeth Borne this Monday resonated like a clap of thunder. If several people coveted this place, it was Gabriel Attal, 34, who succeeded and took the place of Prime Minister. However, the name was to be revealed early yesterday evening, but the thirty-year-old's name only came out today at midday, due to the dissatisfaction of some, explains BFMTV.

"Don't want to work for a 34 year old kid"

Indeed, this Monday evening, the calls multiplied in order to contest and show the disagreement of the trend that emerged: Gabriel Attal who should take his place at Matignon.

"Bruno (Le Maire) and Gérald (Darmanin) screamed", explained one of their colleagues.  "They want the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or they are coming out,” said a majority executive. The latter also indicated that they did not want to be under the orders of the new Prime Minister. "Bruno Le Maire does not want to work for a 34-year-old kid", adds a another close to the current Minister of the Economy, reported by BFMTV.

But quickly, the two interested parties, namely Gérald Darmanin and Bruno Lemaire, denied it. "He absolutely did not object", affirmed the ;#39;Entourage of the Minister of the Interior. "The relationship is excellent. The minister has respect and friendship for Gabriel Attal", ", indicated Bruno Le Maire's entourage, relayed by the news channel.

Félicitations à @GabrielAttal. Je lui souhaite une pleine réussite au service des Français.

— Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) January 9, 2024

But other names also emerged during this protest: Edouard Philippe, François Bayrou and Alexis Kohler. Indeed, the former Prime Minister from 2017 to 2020, does not appreciate this promotion of Gabriel Attal, who represents a potential rival for the next presidential election which will take place in 2027.

As for the Secretary General of the Élysée, Alexis Kohler, he considers that this appointment is a bad choice. "He does not&#39 ;doesn't like audacity or politics, declares a majority executive quoted by the news channel.