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The French leader has called upon Sébastien Lecornu to come back as head of government a mere four days after he resigned, causing a stretch of political upheaval and instability.

Macron made the announcement on Friday evening, following consulting with key political groups collectively at the official residence, excluding the figures of the political extremes.

The decision to reinstate him was unexpected, as he stated on national TV just 48 hours prior that he was not interested in returning and his role had concluded.

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

Governing Obstacles and Budgetary Strains

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

The prime minister, who is one of a trusted associate, then issued a detailed message on an online platform in which he consented to “out of duty” the mission given to him by the president, to strive to finalize financial plans by the December and respond to the common issues of our countrymen.

Partisan conflicts over how to bring down France's national debt and cut the budget deficit have led to the fall of two of the past three prime ministers in the last year, so his mission is enormous.

France's public debt earlier this year was nearly 114 percent of economic output (GDP) – the third largest in the eurozone – and current shortfall is projected to reach over five percent of economic output.

The premier said that everyone must contribute the need of restoring France's public finances. Given the limited time before the completion of his mandate, he warned that prospective ministers would have to delay their political goals.

Ruling Amid Division

Compounding the challenge for Lecornu is that he will face a show of support in a legislative body where the president has lacks sufficient support to endorse his government. The president's popularity hit a record low recently, according to a survey that put his approval rating on 14%.

The far-right leader of the far-right National Rally, which was left out of consultations with faction heads on the end of the week, said that the decision, by a president increasingly isolated at the official residence, is a “bad joke”.

They would promptly introduce a vote of no confidence against a struggling administration, whose only reason for being was avoiding a vote, Bardella added.

Forming Coalitions

The prime minister at least knows the pitfalls in his path as he tries to form a government, because he has already devoted 48 hours lately talking to factions that might support him.

By themselves, the moderate factions cannot form a government, and there are divisions within the right-leaning party who have helped prop up the ruling coalition since he lacked support in the previous vote.

So he will seek socialist factions for future alliances.

To gain leftist support, Macron's team hinted the president was evaluating a pause to some aspects of his divisive social security adjustments passed in 2023 which increased the pension age from 62 up to 64.

It was insufficient of what socialist figures hoped for, as they were hoping he would appoint a prime minister from the left. The Socialist leader of the Socialists 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 left-wing party said after meeting the president that the progressive camp wanted real change, and a premier from the president's centrist camp would not be supported by the French people.

Greens leader Marine Tondelier expressed shock Macron had given minimal offers to the progressives, adding that the situation would deteriorate.