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The French leader has requested his former prime minister to return as French prime minister a mere four days after he left the post, causing a stretch of intense uncertainty and instability.

The president made the announcement towards the end of the week, following gathering leading factions together at the Élysée Palace, except for the figures of the far right and far left.

Lecornu's return shocked many, as he declared on national TV recently that he was not interested in returning and his role had concluded.

Doubts remain whether he will be able to form a government, but he will have to hit the ground running. Lecornu faces a deadline on Monday to present the annual budget before the National Assembly.

Leadership Hurdles and Budgetary Strains

The presidency said the president had “tasked [Lecornu] with forming a government”, and Macron's entourage indicated he had been given full authority to act.

Lecornu, who is one of the president's key supporters, then published a detailed message on an online platform in which he consented to as an obligation the assignment assigned by the president, to make every effort to secure a national budget by the December and address the common issues of our fellow citizens.

Partisan conflicts over how to reduce France's national debt and balance the books have led to the ouster of two of the past three prime ministers in the last year, so his task is enormous.

France's public debt in the past months was almost 114% of national income – the number three in the euro area – and this year's budget deficit is estimated to amount to over five percent of GDP.

Lecornu emphasized that “no-one will be able to shirk” the need of fixing government accounts. Given the limited time before the completion of his mandate, he advised that prospective ministers would have to put on hold their political goals.

Leading Without Support

Adding to the difficulty for the prime minister is that he will face a show of support in a National Assembly where Macron has lacks sufficient support to back him. Macron's approval reached its lowest point in the latest survey, according to a survey that put his support level on just 14%.

Jordan Bardella of the right-wing group, which was excluded of the president's discussions with political chiefs on Friday, remarked that Lecornu's reappointment, by a president “more than ever isolated and disconnected” at the Élysée, is a misstep.

They would promptly introduce a challenge against a failing government, whose main motivation was avoiding a vote, Bardella added.

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 spent two days lately meeting with political groups that might support him.

By themselves, the moderate factions are insufficient, and there are divisions within the conservative Republicans who have supported the administration since he lost his majority in the previous vote.

So Lecornu will seek left-wing parties for potential support.

In an attempt to court the left, Macron's team indicated the president was thinking of postponing to some aspects of his highly contentious retirement changes passed in 2023 which increased the pension age from 62 up to 64.

It was insufficient of what progressive chiefs desired, as they were anticipating he would select a premier from their side. Olivier Faure of the leftist party commented lacking commitments, they would withhold backing to back the prime minister.

Fabien Roussel from the Communists commented post-consultation that the progressive camp wanted genuine reform, and a prime minister from the central bloc would not be endorsed by the French people.

Environmental party head the Green figure said she was “stunned” Macron had given minimal offers to the left, adding that outcomes would be negative.