A few days after the media coverage of the relationship between Jordan Bardella and Maria Carolina of Bourbon of the Two Sicilies, Gabriel Attal also chose to talk about his love life.
Guest featured in this week's portrait Seven to Eight On TF1, Gabriel Attal revealed that he and Stéphane Séjourné, former minister and current Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, are back together. The former Prime Minister explained that their rekindled relationship occurred after the dissolution of the National Assembly in June 2024.
He described this bond, which was never completely broken, in these terms: "We never really lost touch. We always continued to talk to each other as if we didn't want the separation to be total and to be a reality. I feel extremely lucky in that respect."
When pressed about the place occupied by Stéphane Séjourné in his life, Gabriel Attal openly acknowledged the strength of this attachment. « You say she's the love of your life. Are you sure?, asks Audrey Crespo-Mara. “I’m sure,” replied Gabriel Attal, smiling. “We’ve been through trials and tribulations, separations.”
A story born at the heart of Macron's rise to power
The relationship between Gabriel Attal and Stéphane Séjourné began in the early years of the political realignment aroundEmmanuel MacronThe two men crossed paths as the movement that would become En Marche, founded in 2016, was taking shape, and their political proximity was gradually accompanied by a personal relationship that remained discreet for a long time.
In 2017, following Emmanuel Macron's election to the Élysée Palace, Gabriel Attal became a member of parliament for the Hauts-de-Seine department, while Stéphane Séjourné emerged as one of the new administration's close advisors. Their relationship was known in certain political circles, but remained largely out of the public eye.
Two parallel political trajectories at the top of the majority
In 2019, Stéphane Séjourné was elected to the European Parliament, further strengthening the duo's position within the presidential majority. At the same time, Gabriel Attal continued his rise through the ranks of government before becoming government spokesperson in 2020, and subsequently one of the most visible figures of Macronism in the years that followed.
Despite this growing political exposure, their private life remained largely protected. Their relationship then emerged as one of the most recognizable among the new generation of Macron supporters, without, however, being subject to sustained public overexposure.
A separation around 2022 before a reunion after the dissolution
Their separation occurred around 2022, after they had been in a civil partnership for five years. This breakup was not officially announced. Gabriel Attal now explains that the bond had never truly disappeared, which sheds light on the couple's reunion after the dissolution of the National Assembly in June 2024.
Stéphane Séjourné now holds a key position at the European Commission
Stéphane Séjourné now serves as Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, a portfolio confirmed by the European institutions. This position follows a career path marked by his time in the European Parliament and then the French government before his move to Brussels.
A rare personal statement from Gabriel Attal
Beyond the mere romantic revelation, this revelation marks a turning point in the way Gabriel Attal speaks about his private life. By choosing to describe Stéphane Séjourné as"love of [his] life"The former head of government gives a new and very personal dimension to a relationship which, until now, had mostly evolved away from public comment.
