Presidential 2027: Gabriel Attal wants to be the president who “understands youth”

“Don’t worry, be Gaby” t-shirts, football stand style tifos and Jeunes En Marche to heat up the room: the Renaissance candidate had brought out the kit for his first “regional meeting”, Saturday in Lyon. Practical, the tifos were also used to cover the empty seats of Amphitheater 3,000, where some 2,000 people were seated. Nearly five months after his declaration of candidacy, and still ahead in the polls by Édouard Philippe, Gabriel Attal focused on youth, after several weeks of mobilization in high schools.

“I want to be the president who will speak to young people because he understands them,” he said. At 37, he is old enough for him. It remains to convince high school students who are demonstrating in particular against Parcoursup, a reform for which he was the rapporteur in 2018.

Fewer students, more teachers and sports in the afternoon

The “pact” includes measures already announced. Thanks to the demographic decline, he promises “fewer students per class and more teachers in front of the students. » Teachers in mid-career would earn 200 to 500 euros net more. You would need a school certificate to enter middle school and a certificate to enter high school, with a “bridging year” for those who fail.

The new thing is a “real revolution in school time”, with sport, culture and arts from 3 p.m. Saying he was “angry” at the low place of climate in the debate, he would also give his government five years to adapt all educational establishments.

In higher education, he wants to “change everything”, without removing Parcoursup. He suggests changing it: less continuous monitoring, more final tests, more human support in orientation. Licenses and masters which lead too little to employment would be eliminated or transformed. Finally, 150 young people aged 16 to 25, drawn at random, will be invited to work on its proposals.

“Old politician style”, replies Mélenchon

The meeting also had the scent of a duel. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, expected Sunday at the Zénith d'Auvergne, in Clermont-Ferrand, is also counting on the high school movement. Gabriel Attal tried to place himself between two camps: Insoumise France, accused of “legitimizing violence”, and the National Rally, which according to him would only “padlock” the youth.

On the strategy side, he calls for a “coalition of democrats”, from the social democratic left to the Republican right, and urges Édouard Philippe to accept a primary.

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Jean-Luc Mélenchon's response did not take long. On A dig that does not lack salt coming from a 75-year-old man, candidate for the Élysée for the fourth time. “The young people of France deserve better,” replied Gabriel Attal, who invited him to debate. The young people have not yet decided.