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The French leader has asked his former prime minister to return as French prime minister just days after he resigned, triggering a stretch of political upheaval and instability.

Macron made the announcement towards the end of the week, following consulting with all the main parties collectively at the official residence, excluding the leaders of the extremist parties.

His reappointment was unexpected, as he said on broadcast just 48 hours prior that he was not “chasing the job” and his “mission is over”.

It is not even certain whether he will be able to assemble a cabinet, but he will have to hit the ground running. Lecornu faces a deadline on the start of the week to put next year's budget before the National Assembly.

Governing Obstacles and Fiscal Demands

The Élysée confirmed the president had given him the duty of creating a administration, and those close to the president indicated he had been given “carte blanche” to make decisions.

The prime minister, who is one of a trusted associate, then released a comprehensive announcement on X in which he consented to responsibly the mission given to him by the president, to strive to finalize financial plans by the year's conclusion and address the daily concerns of our compatriots.

Ideological disagreements over how to lower the country's public debt and cut the budget deficit have led to the fall of several leaders in the last year, so his task is daunting.

Government liabilities in the past months was close to 114% of gross domestic product – the number three in the currency union – and the annual fiscal gap is projected to reach 5.4 percent of economic output.

Lecornu emphasized that “no-one will be able to shirk” the imperative of repairing government accounts. With only 18 months before the end of Macron's presidency, he cautioned that those in the cabinet would have to set aside their aspirations for higher office.

Governing Without a Majority

Compounding the challenge for Lecornu is that he will face a vote of confidence in a parliament where the president has no majority to endorse his government. Macron's approval reached its lowest point in the latest survey, according to research that put his support level on just 14%.

The far-right leader of the National Rally party, which was excluded of Macron's talks with political chiefs on Friday, remarked that the prime minister's return, by a president “more than ever isolated and disconnected” at the presidential palace, is a poor decision.

The National Rally would quickly propose a vote of no confidence against a struggling administration, whose only reason for being was fear of an election, he continued.

Forming Coalitions

The prime minister at least knows the pitfalls ahead as he tries to form a government, because he has already spent two days this week meeting with factions that might support him.

By themselves, the central groups cannot form a government, and there are disagreements within the traditionalists who have supported the ruling coalition since he failed to secure enough seats in elections last year.

So he will consider left-wing parties for future alliances.

In an attempt to court the left, officials suggested the president was considering a delay to portions of his controversial retirement changes implemented recently which increased the pension age from 62 to 64.

It was insufficient of what left-wing leaders hoped for, as they were anticipating he would select a premier from their camp. The Socialist leader of the leftist party stated lacking commitments, they would withhold backing for the premier.

Fabien Roussel from the left-wing party commented post-consultation that the left wanted real change, and a prime minister from the central bloc would not be supported by the public.

Environmental party head the Green figure expressed shock Macron had given minimal offers to the progressives, adding that “all of this is going to turn out very badly”.