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The French leader has asked his former prime minister to come back as head of government just days after he resigned, triggering a stretch of political upheaval and instability.

Macron stated on Friday evening, shortly after consulting with key political groups in one place at the official residence, excluding the figures of the extremist parties.

His reappointment came as a surprise, as he declared on broadcast recently that he was not “chasing the job” and his “mission is over”.

There is uncertainty whether he will be able to assemble a cabinet, but he will have to act quickly. He faces a deadline on Monday to submit financial plans before the National Assembly.

Political Challenges and Fiscal Demands

The presidency said the president had assigned him to build a cabinet, and his advisors suggested he had been given complete freedom to act.

The prime minister, who is one of Macron's closest allies, then issued a detailed message on an online platform in which he agreed to take on responsibly the mission assigned by the president, to do everything to secure a national budget by the year's conclusion and address the everyday problems of our fellow citizens.

Ideological disagreements over how to lower the country's public debt and reduce the fiscal shortfall have resulted in the resignation of multiple premiers in the last year, so his task is enormous.

The nation's debt recently was close to 114% of national income – the number three in the euro area – and current shortfall is projected to hit over five percent of GDP.

Lecornu emphasized that “no-one will be able to shirk” the necessity of restoring the nation's budget. In just a year and a half before the conclusion of his term, he advised that prospective ministers would have to set aside their presidential ambitions.

Leading Without Support

Adding to the difficulty for the prime minister is that he will face a show of support in a parliament where the president has lacks sufficient support to endorse his government. The president's popularity hit a record low this week, according to an Elabe poll that put his support level on 14 percent.

The far-right leader of the far-right National Rally, which was excluded of consultations with party leaders on Friday, said that the decision, by a president out of touch at the official residence, is a “bad joke”.

His party would promptly introduce a motion of censure against a struggling administration, whose only reason for being was avoiding a vote, the leader stated.

Seeking Support

Lecornu at least knows the pitfalls ahead as he tries to establish a cabinet, because he has already used time lately consulting factions that might participate in his administration.

Alone, the moderate factions cannot form a government, and there are splits within the conservative Republicans who have helped prop up Macron's governments since he lost his majority in recent polls.

So Lecornu will look to left-wing parties for future alliances.

In an attempt to court the left, Macron's team suggested the president was evaluating a pause to some aspects of his divisive social security adjustments implemented recently which increased the pension age from the early sixties.

It was insufficient of what left-wing leaders hoped for, as they were hoping he would select a leader from their camp. The Socialist leader of the leftist party stated lacking commitments, they would withhold backing in a vote of confidence.

The Communist figure from the Communists commented post-consultation that the progressive camp wanted genuine reform, and a leader from the moderate faction would not be supported by the public.

Environmental party head Marine Tondelier expressed shock Macron had provided few concessions to the progressives, adding that outcomes would be negative.