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President Emmanuel Macron has called upon his former prime minister to come back as French prime minister just days after he stepped down, triggering a week of intense uncertainty and instability.

The president declared on Friday evening, following meeting key political groups in one place at the presidential palace, except for the leaders of the political extremes.

The decision to reinstate him shocked many, as he stated on national TV just 48 hours prior that he was not seeking the position and his “mission is over”.

Doubts remain whether he will be able to assemble a cabinet, but he will have to act quickly. The new prime minister faces a time limit on the start of the week to present the annual budget before parliament.

Leadership Hurdles and Economic Pressures

Officials said the president had “tasked [Lecornu] with forming a government”, and Macron's entourage indicated he had been given “carte blanche” to make decisions.

The prime minister, who is one of Macron's closest allies, then released a comprehensive announcement on an online platform in which he agreed to take on as an obligation the assignment entrusted to me by the president, to strive to finalize financial plans by the end of the year and respond to the daily concerns of our compatriots.

Political divisions over how to lower government borrowing and reduce the fiscal shortfall have led to the resignation of two of the past three prime ministers in the recent period, so his task is enormous.

France's public debt earlier this year was nearly 114 percent of national income – the third largest in the eurozone – and the annual fiscal gap is projected to reach 5.4% of GDP.

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

Ruling Amid Division

Adding to the difficulty for Lecornu is that he will face a show of support in a parliament where Macron has lacks sufficient support to endorse his government. His public standing plummeted recently, according to an Elabe poll that put his support level on 14%.

Jordan Bardella of the National Rally party, which was not invited of consultations with faction heads on the end of the week, commented that Lecornu's reappointment, by a president out of touch at the Élysée, is a “bad joke”.

His party would promptly introduce a vote of no confidence against a failing government, whose only reason for being was avoiding a vote, he continued.

Building Alliances

Lecornu at least knows the pitfalls he faces as he tries to establish a cabinet, because he has already devoted 48 hours lately consulting parties that might support him.

Alone, the moderate factions lack a majority, and there are divisions within the right-leaning party who have assisted Macron's governments since he failed to secure enough seats in the previous vote.

So he will look to socialist factions for potential support.

To gain leftist support, Macron's team suggested the president was thinking of postponing to part of his highly contentious pension reforms passed in 2023 which extended working life from the early sixties.

That fell short of what left-wing leaders desired, as they were hoping he would select a premier from their camp. The Socialist leader of the leftist party stated “since we've not been given any guarantees, we won't give any guarantee” for the premier.

Fabien Roussel from the Communists stated following discussions that the left wanted genuine reform, and a leader from the moderate faction would not be accepted by the citizens.

Environmental party head the Green figure said she was “stunned” Macron had provided few concessions to the progressives, adding that the situation would deteriorate.