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The French leader has asked his former prime minister to return as head of government only four days after he left the post, causing a period of high drama and political turmoil.

The president made the announcement towards the end of the week, shortly after gathering key political groups together at the official residence, except for the leaders of the extremist parties.

The decision to reinstate him was unexpected, as he stated on television only two days ago that he was not “chasing the job” and his role had concluded.

There is uncertainty whether he will be able to establish a ruling coalition, but he will have to start immediately. He faces a deadline on the start of the week to submit financial plans before lawmakers.

Leadership Hurdles and Budgetary Strains

The presidency announced the president had “tasked [Lecornu] with forming a government”, and Macron's entourage suggested he had been given complete freedom to proceed.

Lecornu, who is one of Macron's closest allies, then issued a long statement on X in which he accepted “out of duty” the assignment given to him by the president, to strive to secure a national budget by the year's conclusion and tackle the common issues of our countrymen.

Partisan conflicts over how to bring down France's national debt and cut the budget deficit have resulted in the resignation of two of the past three prime ministers in the recent period, so his mission is daunting.

The nation's debt recently was nearly 114 percent of national income – the number three in the euro area – and current shortfall is projected to amount to 5.4% of GDP.

The premier said that everyone must contribute the need of restoring government accounts. Given the limited time before the end of Macron's presidency, he warned that anyone joining his government would have to put on hold their aspirations for higher office.

Ruling Amid Division

Compounding the challenge for the prime minister is that he will face a show of support in a National Assembly where Macron has no majority to endorse his government. Macron's approval plummeted recently, according to an Elabe poll that put his approval rating on just 14%.

The far-right leader of the National Rally party, which was not invited of Macron's talks with party leaders on the end of the week, remarked that Lecornu's reappointment, by a president out of touch at the Élysée, is a “bad joke”.

His party would immediately bring a challenge against a failing government, whose sole purpose was fear of an election, Bardella added.

Building Alliances

The prime minister at least understands the obstacles ahead as he tries to form a government, because he has already devoted 48 hours recently meeting with political groups that might join his government.

On their own, the moderate factions lack a majority, and there are disagreements within the right-leaning party who have supported the administration since he failed to secure enough seats in recent polls.

So he will look to left-wing parties for potential support.

In an attempt to court the left, the president's advisors indicated the president was thinking of postponing to portions of his divisive retirement changes implemented recently which increased the pension age from 62 to 64.

That fell short of what progressive chiefs desired, as they were anticipating he would appoint a prime minister from their side. The Socialist leader of the Socialists commented “since we've not been given any guarantees, we won't give any guarantee” in a vote of confidence.

The Communist figure from the left-wing party commented post-consultation that the left wanted real change, and a premier from the central bloc would not be accepted by the citizens.

Greens leader Marine Tondelier remarked she was surprised Macron had offered the left almost nothing to the left, adding that outcomes would be negative.