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President Emmanuel Macron has requested Sébastien Lecornu to resume duties as head of government a mere four days after he resigned, causing a stretch of political upheaval and political turmoil.

Macron made the announcement late on Friday, hours after consulting with leading factions collectively at the presidential palace, except for the leaders of the far right and far left.

His reappointment was unexpected, as he said on broadcast recently that he was not interested in returning and his role had concluded.

Doubts remain 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 put next year's budget before parliament.

Political Challenges and Economic Pressures

The presidency said the president had “tasked [Lecornu] with forming a government”, and his advisors suggested he had been given “carte blanche” to act.

The prime minister, who is one of the president's key supporters, then published a comprehensive announcement on X in which he accepted responsibly the mission assigned by the president, to make every effort to secure a national budget by the December and tackle the everyday problems of our countrymen.

Partisan conflicts over how to bring down government borrowing and balance the books have resulted in the resignation of two of the past three prime ministers in the last year, so his task is daunting.

France's public debt recently was close to 114% of national income – the third largest in the eurozone – and this year's budget deficit is projected to hit 5.4 percent of the economy.

The premier stated that “no-one will be able to shirk” the imperative of restoring France's public finances. In just a year and a half before the completion of his mandate, he advised 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 lacks sufficient support to support him. The president's popularity hit a record low recently, according to research that put his public backing on 14 percent.

Jordan Bardella of the right-wing group, which was not invited of Macron's talks with faction heads on Friday, commented that the prime minister's return, by a president “more than ever isolated and disconnected” at the official residence, is a misstep.

They would immediately bring a challenge against a struggling administration, whose main motivation was dreading polls, the leader stated.

Building Alliances

The prime minister at least understands the obstacles in his path as he tries to build a coalition, because he has already used time this week talking to factions that might participate in his administration.

On their own, the moderate factions cannot form a government, and there are disagreements within the traditionalists who have assisted Macron's governments since he lost his majority in the previous vote.

So he will look to socialist factions for potential support.

To gain leftist support, officials indicated the president was thinking of postponing to some aspects of his controversial social security adjustments implemented recently which extended working life from 62 up to 64.

It was insufficient of what progressive chiefs wanted, as they were hoping he would select a leader from their side. Olivier Faure of the leftist party said “since we've not been given any guarantees, we won't give any guarantee” in a vote of confidence.

The Communist figure from the Communists commented post-consultation that the progressive camp wanted substantive shifts, and a prime minister from the moderate faction would not be supported by the citizens.

Greens leader the Green figure said she was “stunned” the president had offered the left almost nothing to the progressives, adding that outcomes would be negative.