But his most recent stunt has led to accusations of sexism, with opposition figures left and right criticizing his “manterrupting” and “macho” attitude.
“Gabriel Attal’s behaviour with Valérie Hayer has a name: manterrupting. Enough of this machismo!,” said Raquel Garrido, a parliamentarian for the leftist France Unbowed group.
#EUROPEENNES 🔴🗣 Le Premier ministre Gabriel Attal fait irruption dans l’auditorium de la Maison de la radio, pour défendre la candidature de Valérie Hayer. “Il faut se mobiliser pour les listes qui sont pro-européennes”, plaide-t-il. pic.twitter.com/B8tpjjPbwT
— franceinfo (@franceinfo) June 3, 2024
Marine Le Pen, head of the National Rally, joined in with the criticism.
“The way the Prime Minister humiliated (Hayer) by inviting himself on to one of her broadcasts is a real disgrace,” Le Pen wrote on social media. “He would never have allowed himself to do that if the candidate had been a man.”
Hayer has officially pushed back against these accusations and said she was unbothered by Attal’s appearance: “It’s undignified to accuse Gabriel Attal of misogyny … I’m very proud to have him by my side.”
But according to a pro-Macron campaign strategist, who was granted anonimity to speak candidly, Attal’s behaviour created “a great deal of unease at campaign headquarters,” with Hayer herself being “not really happy.”