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The French leader has called upon his former prime minister to come back as French prime minister only four days after he left the post, sparking a week of high drama and political turmoil.

The president made the announcement towards the end of the week, hours after meeting all the main parties in one place at the presidential palace, except for the representatives of the extremist parties.

The decision to reinstate him shocked many, as he said on television just 48 hours prior that he was not seeking the position and his “mission is over”.

There is uncertainty whether he will be able to form a government, but he will have to hit the ground running. The new prime minister faces a deadline on Monday to present the annual budget before lawmakers.

Governing Obstacles and Economic Pressures

The Élysée said the president had given him the duty of creating a administration, and Macron's entourage implied he had been given “carte blanche” to make decisions.

Lecornu, who is one of a trusted associate, then released a comprehensive announcement on social media in which he consented to responsibly the task entrusted to me by the president, to strive to finalize financial plans by the December and address the common issues of our compatriots.

Political divisions over how to lower the country's public debt and cut the budget deficit have caused the resignation of several leaders in the past twelve months, so his task is immense.

Government liabilities in the past months was almost 114% of economic output (GDP) – the number three in the eurozone – and the annual fiscal gap is expected to hit 5.4% of economic output.

The premier stated that “no-one will be able to shirk” the need of restoring France's public finances. With only 18 months before the completion of his mandate, he warned that anyone joining his government would have to put on hold their aspirations for higher office.

Leading Without Support

What makes it even harder for the prime minister is that he will face a show of support in a National Assembly where the president has no majority to back him. The president's popularity reached its lowest point recently, according to a survey that put his public backing on just 14%.

The far-right leader of the far-right National Rally, which was left out of Macron's talks with party leaders on the end of the week, commented that Lecornu's reappointment, by a president out of touch at the Élysée, is a “bad joke”.

The National Rally would promptly introduce a motion of censure against a doomed coalition, whose main motivation was fear of an election, the leader stated.

Building Alliances

Lecornu at least understands the obstacles ahead as he tries to build a coalition, because he has already used time recently meeting with political groups that might support him.

On their own, the central groups cannot form a government, and there are divisions within the right-leaning party who have helped prop up the ruling coalition since he failed to secure enough seats in the previous vote.

So he will look to progressive groups for future alliances.

To gain leftist support, the president's advisors hinted the president was considering a delay to part of his divisive social security adjustments enacted last year which increased the pension age from the early sixties.

That fell short of what left-wing leaders wanted, as they were hoping he would select a prime minister from their camp. Olivier Faure of the Socialists commented 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 prime minister from the president's centrist camp would not be supported by the citizens.

Greens leader Marine Tondelier remarked she was surprised Macron had offered the left almost nothing to the progressives, adding that the situation would deteriorate.