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President Emmanuel Macron has asked his former prime minister to resume duties as French prime minister only four days after he left the post, triggering a stretch of political upheaval and crisis.

Macron declared towards the end of the week, hours after consulting with key political groups together at the Élysée Palace, omitting the leaders of the political extremes.

Lecornu's return was unexpected, as he declared on national TV recently that he was not seeking the position 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. The new prime minister faces a time limit on Monday to submit financial plans before parliament.

Political Challenges and Economic Pressures

The presidency confirmed the president had assigned him to build a cabinet, and Macron's entourage suggested he had been given full authority to proceed.

The prime minister, who is one of a trusted associate, then released a long statement on X in which he consented to “out of duty” the task entrusted to me by the president, to strive to secure a national budget by the year's conclusion and address the common issues of our compatriots.

Political divisions over how to lower France's national debt and balance the books have caused the fall of multiple premiers in the recent period, so his challenge is daunting.

Government liabilities in the past months was close to 114% of economic output (GDP) – the third highest in the eurozone – and current shortfall is estimated to reach over five percent of the economy.

Lecornu said that no one can avoid the need of restoring the nation's budget. Given the limited time before the conclusion of his term, he warned that those in the cabinet would have to set aside their presidential ambitions.

Governing Without a Majority

What makes it even harder for Lecornu is that he will face a show of support in a National Assembly where the president has lacks sufficient support to endorse his government. Macron's approval plummeted this week, according to an Elabe poll that put his approval rating on 14%.

The far-right leader of the National Rally party, which was not invited of Macron's talks with political chiefs on Friday, remarked that the decision, by a president “more than ever isolated and disconnected” at the presidential palace, is a “bad joke”.

His party would quickly propose a motion of censure against a doomed coalition, whose sole purpose was dreading polls, the leader stated.

Seeking Support

The prime minister at least knows the pitfalls he faces as he tries to build a coalition, because he has already devoted 48 hours lately meeting with factions that might support him.

By themselves, the central groups are insufficient, and there are disagreements within the traditionalists who have supported the ruling coalition since he lacked support in recent polls.

So Lecornu will look to socialist factions for future alliances.

In an attempt to court the left, the president's advisors indicated the president was thinking of postponing to some aspects of his highly contentious social security adjustments passed in 2023 which extended working life from the early sixties.

It was insufficient of what left-wing leaders wanted, as they were hoping he would select a leader from the left. The Socialist leader of the Socialists stated lacking commitments, they would withhold backing for the premier.

The Communist figure from the Communists stated following discussions that the progressive camp wanted genuine reform, and a leader from the president's centrist camp would not be endorsed by the French people.

Greens leader the Green figure remarked she was surprised Macron had provided few concessions to the left, adding that outcomes would be negative.