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President Emmanuel Macron has called upon his former prime minister to return as French prime minister only four days after he left the post, triggering a period of political upheaval and crisis.

The president stated on Friday evening, hours after gathering key political groups together at the presidential palace, omitting the leaders of the political extremes.

The decision to reinstate him shocked many, as he declared on national TV only two days ago that he was not interested in returning and his “mission is over”.

It is not even certain whether he will be able to establish a ruling coalition, but he will have to start immediately. The new prime minister faces a cut-off on Monday to submit financial plans before the National Assembly.

Leadership Hurdles and Budgetary Strains

The Élysée confirmed the president had assigned him to build a cabinet, and his advisors suggested he had been given full authority to make decisions.

Lecornu, who is one of the president's key supporters, then issued a detailed message on social media in which he accepted responsibly the mission entrusted to me by the president, to strive to provide France with a budget by the December and respond to the common issues of our countrymen.

Partisan conflicts over how to lower France's national debt and balance the books have led to the fall of two of the past three prime ministers in the past twelve months, so his task is daunting.

The nation's debt earlier this year was nearly 114 percent of national income – the third highest in the euro area – and this year's budget deficit is estimated to hit 5.4 percent of the economy.

Lecornu stated that “no-one will be able to shirk” the need of fixing the nation's budget. In just a year and a half before the conclusion of his term, he advised that prospective ministers would have to delay their political goals.

Leading Without Support

Adding to the difficulty for Lecornu is that he will face a parliamentary test in a legislative body where the president has no majority to endorse his government. His public standing reached its lowest point this week, according to an Elabe poll that put his approval rating on just 14%.

Jordan Bardella of the right-wing group, which was left out of the president's discussions with faction heads on Friday, remarked that Lecornu's reappointment, by a president “more than ever isolated and disconnected” at the presidential palace, is a “bad joke”.

They would quickly propose a vote of no confidence against a doomed coalition, whose sole purpose was dreading polls, Bardella added.

Forming Coalitions

Lecornu at least knows the pitfalls he faces as he tries to establish a cabinet, because he has already devoted 48 hours recently consulting parties that might join his government.

On their own, the moderate factions cannot form a government, and there are divisions within the traditionalists who have supported the administration since he failed to secure enough seats in recent polls.

So Lecornu will seek socialist factions for possible backing.

To gain leftist support, the president's advisors hinted the president was considering a delay to some aspects of his divisive retirement changes passed in 2023 which extended working life from 62 up to 64.

The offer was inadequate of what socialist figures wanted, as they were anticipating he would select a prime minister from the left. Olivier Faure of the leftist party commented lacking commitments, they would withhold backing in a vote of confidence.

Fabien Roussel from the Communists said after meeting the president that the left wanted real change, and a prime minister from the central bloc would not be supported by the citizens.

Environmental party head Marine Tondelier said she was “stunned” the president had given minimal offers to the left, adding that “all of this is going to turn out very badly”.