Exhibit 32.1

                            CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO
                             18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

      I, George Perlegos, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as
adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that the
Quarterly Report of Atmel Corporation on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period
ended June 30, 2004 (i) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and (ii) that information contained
in such Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects,
the financial condition and results of operations of Atmel Corporation.

    AUGUST 6, 2004                    By: /S/  GEORGE PERLEGOS
                                          --------------------------------------
                                      Name: George Perlegos
                                      Title: President & Chief Executive Officer