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President Emmanuel Macron has asked Sébastien Lecornu to resume duties as head of government a mere four days after he stepped down, triggering a period of high drama and instability.

Macron stated towards the end of the week, following consulting with all the main parties in one place at the presidential palace, excluding the figures of the extremist parties.

The decision to reinstate him was unexpected, as he stated on television just 48 hours prior that he was not “chasing the job” and his “mission is over”.

It is not even certain whether he will be able to assemble a cabinet, but he will have to start immediately. The new prime minister faces a deadline on Monday to put next year's budget before the National Assembly.

Political Challenges and Budgetary Strains

The Élysée announced the president had assigned him to build a cabinet, and those close to the president indicated he had been given full authority to act.

Lecornu, who is one of Macron's closest allies, then issued a long statement on X in which he consented to “out of duty” the assignment assigned by the president, to do everything to finalize financial plans by the end of the year and tackle the common issues of our compatriots.

Partisan conflicts over how to bring down France's national debt and reduce the fiscal shortfall have caused the ouster of multiple premiers in the recent period, so his challenge is enormous.

The nation's debt earlier this year was almost 114% of national income – the third largest in the euro area – and the annual fiscal gap is estimated to hit over five percent of economic output.

Lecornu said that “no-one will be able to shirk” the need of restoring France's public finances. In just a year and a half before the end of Macron's presidency, he cautioned that anyone joining his government would have to delay their political goals.

Governing Without a Majority

Compounding the challenge for Lecornu is that he will face a vote of confidence in a National Assembly where the president has is short of votes to endorse his government. His public standing plummeted this week, according to an Elabe poll that put his approval rating on 14%.

Jordan Bardella of the right-wing group, which was not invited of Macron's talks with faction heads on Friday, commented that Lecornu's reappointment, by a president increasingly isolated at the official residence, is a “bad joke”.

They would quickly propose a motion of censure against a struggling administration, whose sole purpose was fear of an election, he continued.

Seeking Support

The prime minister at least is aware of the challenges ahead as he tries to establish a cabinet, because he has already spent two days this week talking to factions that might support him.

Alone, the central groups lack a majority, and there are divisions within the conservative Republicans who have assisted Macron's governments since he lost his majority in recent polls.

So he will look to progressive groups for possible backing.

As a gesture to progressives, Macron's team indicated the president was thinking of postponing to some aspects of his controversial pension reforms passed in 2023 which increased the pension age from 62 up to 64.

The offer was inadequate of what left-wing leaders hoped for, as they were expecting he would select a prime minister from their side. Olivier Faure of the Socialists commented without assurances, they would offer no support for the premier.

The Communist figure from the Communists stated following discussions that the progressive camp wanted real change, and a prime minister from the moderate faction would not be endorsed by the public.

Environmental party head Marine Tondelier said she was “stunned” Macron had provided few concessions to the left, adding that “all of this is going to turn out very badly”.