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The French leader has asked Sébastien Lecornu to come back as French prime minister a mere four days after he resigned, causing a week of intense uncertainty and crisis.

The president made the announcement late on Friday, hours after meeting key political groups together at the official residence, omitting the figures of the far right and far left.

Lecornu's return came as a surprise, as he stated on national TV just 48 hours prior 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 deadline on the start of the week to put next year's budget before parliament.

Governing Obstacles and Budgetary Strains

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

The prime minister, who is one of Macron's closest allies, then released a long statement on X in which he agreed to take on “out of duty” the mission given to him by the president, to strive to secure a national budget by the year's conclusion and respond to the common issues of our fellow citizens.

Political divisions over how to reduce France's national debt and balance the books have caused the resignation of two of the past three prime ministers in the recent period, so his task is enormous.

The nation's debt recently was nearly 114 percent of national income – the third highest in the currency union – and this year's budget deficit is expected to reach 5.4% of economic output.

The premier emphasized that no one can avoid the need of repairing the nation's budget. With only 18 months before the conclusion of his term, he warned that those in the cabinet would have to delay their political goals.

Ruling Amid Division

What makes it even harder for Lecornu is that he will face a vote of confidence in a National Assembly where the president has lacks sufficient support to endorse his government. The president's popularity plummeted recently, according to a survey that put his public backing on 14 percent.

Jordan Bardella of the National Rally party, which was left out of the president's discussions with political chiefs on the end of the week, said that Lecornu's reappointment, by a president out of touch at the official residence, is a poor decision.

His party would immediately bring a vote of no confidence against a failing government, whose main motivation was dreading polls, Bardella added.

Building Alliances

The prime minister at least knows the pitfalls ahead as he tries to establish a cabinet, because he has already devoted 48 hours recently consulting parties that might join his government.

On their own, the central groups lack a majority, and there are splits within the traditionalists who have supported the ruling coalition since he lacked support in recent polls.

So Lecornu will look to progressive groups for possible backing.

In an attempt to court the left, officials indicated the president was thinking of postponing to portions of his divisive retirement changes passed in 2023 which increased the pension age from 62 up to 64.

That fell short of what left-wing leaders wanted, as they were anticipating he would choose a premier from their side. The Socialist leader of the leftist party stated without assurances, they would offer no support for the premier.

Fabien Roussel from the Communists commented post-consultation that the progressive camp wanted genuine reform, and a leader from the moderate faction would not be accepted by the citizens.

Environmental party head Marine Tondelier said she was “stunned” Macron had offered the left almost nothing to the progressives, adding that the situation would deteriorate.