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President Emmanuel Macron has called upon his former prime minister to come back as head of government only four days after he left the post, triggering a stretch of high drama and crisis.

Macron declared late on Friday, following consulting with key political groups in one place at the Élysée Palace, excluding the representatives of the far right and far left.

His reappointment was unexpected, as he declared on broadcast 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 form a government, but he will have to hit the ground running. He faces a deadline on Monday to put next year's budget before parliament.

Political Challenges and Economic Pressures

The Élysée announced the president had “tasked [Lecornu] with forming a government”, and those close to the president suggested he had been given complete freedom to make decisions.

The prime minister, who is one of Macron's closest allies, then issued a long statement on X in which he consented to as an obligation the task entrusted to me by the president, to make every effort to provide France with a budget by the year's conclusion and tackle the common issues of our countrymen.

Partisan conflicts over how to lower France's national debt and balance the books have resulted in the fall of two of the past three prime ministers in the recent period, so his mission is enormous.

France's public debt earlier this year was close to 114% of gross domestic product – the number three in the currency union – and the annual fiscal gap is estimated to amount to over five percent of economic output.

Lecornu emphasized that no one can avoid the imperative of fixing France's public finances. Given the limited time before the completion of his mandate, he warned that anyone joining his government would have to set aside their presidential ambitions.

Governing Without a Majority

What makes it even harder for the prime minister is that he will face a show of support in a legislative body where Macron has is short of votes to support him. The president's popularity plummeted in the latest survey, according to a survey that put his public backing on 14%.

The far-right leader of the right-wing group, which was excluded of Macron's talks with party leaders on Friday, remarked that Lecornu's reappointment, by a president “more than ever isolated and disconnected” at the presidential palace, is a poor decision.

The National Rally would promptly introduce a challenge against a failing government, whose only reason for being was dreading polls, he continued.

Building Alliances

The prime minister at least understands the obstacles ahead as he tries to establish a cabinet, because he has already spent two days lately talking to political groups that might join his government.

On their own, the central groups lack a majority, and there are disagreements within the right-leaning party who have helped prop up the administration since he lost his majority in elections last year.

So he will consider progressive groups for potential support.

As a gesture to progressives, officials indicated the president was evaluating a pause to part of his divisive pension reforms enacted last year which increased the pension age from 62 up to 64.

It was insufficient of what left-wing leaders desired, as they were anticipating he would choose a premier from the left. The Socialist leader of the leftist party stated without assurances, they would offer no support to back the prime minister.

Fabien Roussel from the left-wing party stated following discussions that the left wanted substantive shifts, and a premier from the moderate faction would not be endorsed by the French people.

Greens leader the Green figure expressed shock Macron had provided few concessions to the progressives, adding that “all of this is going to turn out very badly”.