Former French PM with Ukrainian roots visits family estate in Odesa region

Former French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, who has Ukrainian roots, visited his family estate in the village of Kurisove in the Odesa region for the first time, TSN reports. The politician arrived in Ukraine with his mother, Marie (“Marika”) de Couriss, who has preserved the family surname.

Attal and his mother visited the church where five generations of the Couriss family are buried, lit a memorial candle, and paid their respects. The French politician revealed that his family has maintained the Orthodox traditions of their ancestors.

Visiting the estate had been a childhood dream for Attal. His grandfather often told him stories about the family palace. Although the building no longer looks like it did in historical photos, having been damaged by the Bolsheviks and a fire, the local community managed to prevent its complete destruction. The estate was purchased at auction by a businessman, and restoration work began, but the war slowed down progress.

“Two days ago, a missile exploded nearby, shaking the fence, so it’s hard to predict when the work will be finished. Our main issue now is restoring the Moorish arch. We found specialists in Lviv, but due to the war, we couldn’t start the work,” said businessman Valerii Kondratiuk.

Residents gifted the French visitors an icon. “When the war started here, I felt it deeply because it’s the land where my ancestors lived. I can say that today, all French people are Ukrainians, and we stand side by side with Ukraine and will continue to help in the fight against aggression,” said Gabriel Attal.

At 35, Gabriel Attal was the youngest head of government in French history. He is considered a protégé of Emmanuel Macron. According to LB.ua, those close to the current president suggest there are plans to prepare Attal for the 2027 elections, when Macron will no longer be eligible to run.