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President Emmanuel Macron has asked Sébastien Lecornu to resume duties as head of government only four days after he left the post, causing a week of high drama and political turmoil.

The president declared late on Friday, following gathering all the main parties in one place at the presidential palace, except for the figures of the far right and far left.

Lecornu's return was unexpected, as he said on national TV only two days ago that he was not “chasing the job” and his task was complete.

There is uncertainty whether he will be able to establish a ruling coalition, but he will have to hit the ground running. The new prime minister faces a deadline on the start of the week to submit financial plans before the National Assembly.

Leadership Hurdles and Economic Pressures

The presidency announced the president had given him the duty of creating a administration, and Macron's entourage suggested he had been given full authority to act.

The prime minister, who is one of a trusted associate, then published a long statement on social media in which he agreed to take on “out of duty” the mission entrusted to me by the president, to strive to provide France with a budget by the December and respond to the everyday problems of our compatriots.

Political divisions over how to bring down the country's public debt and cut the budget deficit have caused the resignation of two of the past three prime ministers in the recent period, so his task is enormous.

France's public debt recently was almost 114% of economic output (GDP) – the third largest in the currency union – and current shortfall is projected to amount to 5.4 percent of the economy.

Lecornu emphasized that everyone must contribute the necessity of fixing the nation's budget. Given the limited time before the end of Macron's presidency, he warned that those in the cabinet would have to put on hold their aspirations for higher office.

Governing Without a Majority

What makes it even harder for the prime minister is that he will face a parliamentary test in a parliament where Macron has lacks sufficient support to back him. The president's popularity reached its lowest point recently, according to research that put his public backing on just 14%.

The far-right leader of the National Rally party, which was not invited of the president's discussions with political chiefs on the end of the week, remarked that Lecornu's reappointment, by a president out of touch at the Élysée, is a poor decision.

They would immediately bring a challenge against a failing government, whose sole purpose was fear of an election, he continued.

Seeking Support

Lecornu at least knows the pitfalls ahead as he tries to form a government, because he has already devoted 48 hours recently talking to political groups that might participate in his administration.

By themselves, the central groups cannot form a government, and there are disagreements within the conservative Republicans who have helped prop up Macron's governments since he lacked support in recent polls.

So Lecornu will look to progressive groups for possible backing.

In an attempt to court the left, Macron's team indicated the president was evaluating a pause to portions of his divisive retirement changes passed in 2023 which extended working life from 62 to 64.

That fell short of what left-wing leaders desired, as they were anticipating he would choose a leader from their side. Olivier Faure of the Socialists said lacking commitments, they would withhold backing for the premier.

Fabien Roussel from the Communists said after meeting the president that the progressive camp wanted genuine reform, and a premier from the president's centrist camp would not be accepted by the citizens.

Greens leader the Green figure remarked she was surprised the president had provided few concessions to the progressives, adding that the situation would deteriorate.