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The French leader has requested Sébastien Lecornu to come back as head of government a mere four days after he resigned, sparking a week of intense uncertainty and instability.

The president made the announcement on Friday evening, shortly after meeting leading factions in one place at the Élysée Palace, omitting the representatives of the far right and far left.

Lecornu's return shocked many, as he said on broadcast only two days ago that he was not seeking the position and his “mission is over”.

Doubts remain whether he will be able to establish a ruling coalition, but he will have to hit the ground running. He faces a cut-off on Monday to submit financial plans before the National Assembly.

Governing Obstacles and Economic Pressures

The presidency announced the president had assigned him to build a cabinet, and those close to the president indicated he had been given complete freedom to make decisions.

Lecornu, who is one of the president's key supporters, then released a detailed message on X in which he consented to as an obligation the assignment entrusted to me by the president, to do everything to finalize financial plans by the year's conclusion and address the everyday problems of our fellow citizens.

Political divisions over how to bring down government borrowing and reduce the fiscal shortfall have resulted in the fall of two of the past three prime ministers in the past twelve months, so his challenge is immense.

The nation's debt earlier this year was nearly 114 percent of national income – the number three in the currency union – and the annual fiscal gap is projected to amount to 5.4% of the economy.

The premier stated that everyone must contribute the imperative of fixing government accounts. In just a year and a half before the conclusion of his term, he cautioned that anyone joining his government would have to set aside their political goals.

Governing Without a Majority

What makes it even harder for the prime minister is that he will face a vote of confidence in a National Assembly where the president has is short of votes to support him. His public standing reached its lowest point in the latest survey, according to a survey that put his public backing on just 14%.

The far-right leader of the right-wing group, which was left out of Macron's talks with party leaders on Friday, remarked that Lecornu's reappointment, by a president out of touch at the official residence, is a misstep.

His party would immediately bring a challenge against a failing government, whose only reason for being was fear of an election, he continued.

Seeking Support

The prime minister at least is aware of the challenges in his path as he tries to establish a cabinet, because he has already devoted 48 hours lately talking to factions that might join his government.

By themselves, the moderate factions lack a majority, and there are divisions within the traditionalists who have assisted Macron's governments since he lacked support in elections last year.

So he will seek left-wing parties for future alliances.

In an attempt to court the left, officials suggested the president was considering a delay to portions of his highly contentious social security adjustments enacted last year which increased the pension age from 62 up to 64.

That fell short of what progressive chiefs hoped for, as they were expecting he would select a premier from the left. Olivier Faure of the leftist party stated without assurances, they would offer no support to back the prime minister.

Fabien Roussel from the left-wing party commented post-consultation that the progressive camp wanted genuine reform, and a premier from the moderate faction would not be supported by the public.

Greens leader the Green figure remarked she was surprised the president had given minimal offers to the progressives, adding that outcomes would be negative.