His campaign mirrors the highly successful campaign of radical Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten in October 2025, which focused on optimism about the future and prioritized the younger generations, while raising a sense of national pride.
“My first promise is that we will once again be the leading power in Europe within six years. That is our title, our place, our destiny,” he said, also vowing to make France a European leader in artificial intelligence.
Attal is following current French President Emmanuel Macron as the presidential candidate of the centrist liberal Renaissance party, which he leads. After nearly 10 years of Macron governments and declining popularity, Attal seeks to break away from Macron to position his representation as one of change and reform.
The 37-year-old politician served as prime minister under Macron from January-September 2024. He was the youngest prime minister in French history and the first openly gay.
The latest polls put Attal in fourth place with 13 percent of the popular vote, ahead of far-right Rally France candidate Jordan Bardella, centrist Édouard Philippe, and France’s far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
Attal on Saturday said his priorities would be to strengthen education and increase purchasing power by increasing wages and promoting business as well as investing in research and innovation. His third priority is stricter border controls, a clear attempt to win back voters who have drifted to the far right, where immigration and border security have become central political issues.
