The 37-year-old Attal—the first openly gay prime minister of France and a potential candidate in the next presidential election—gave the interview to TF1 on the occasion of the release of his first book, “Un homme libre.” During the conversation, he openly discussed his long-term relationship with the 41-year-old Séjourné, who currently serves as Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy.
Attal described their connection as “love at first sight,” though he acknowledged that their relationship has been marked by “trials and separations.”
The couple entered into a civil partnership in 2017, which lasted until 2022. During that time, Attal held several ministerial roles—including government spokesperson—while Séjourné served as an adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron before being elected as a Member of the European Parliament. They later separated for two years.
When asked whether they had rekindled their relationship following Macron’s call for snap elections in 2024, Attal confirmed: “Yes, we never truly lost touch… we kept speaking as if we didn’t want the separation to become final or real. I feel extremely lucky,” he added.
However, according to Politico, their relationship could raise potential conflict-of-interest concerns, given Attal’s national political ambitions. The former prime minister—currently a member of parliament and leader of Macron’s Renaissance party—has not concealed his intention to run in the next presidential election.
He is now preparing to launch a nationwide tour, with a major campaign rally scheduled in Paris at the end of May. In an interview with the weekly magazine Le Point, Attal stated that he knows “how to govern France” and is currently working on policy proposals related to healthcare, constitutional reform, and labor relations.
As a European Commissioner, Séjourné pledged upon taking office to prioritize the interests of the Union and remain independent from national politics. His term extends beyond 2027, meaning he will have to work with France’s next president—who could potentially be one of Attal’s political rivals in the upcoming campaign.
If Attal were to win the French presidential election, the European Commission would enter uncharted territory, as there are currently no rules governing personal relationships between commissioners and heads of state.
With information from Politico.
