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President Emmanuel Macron has asked his former prime minister to return as head of government only four days after he stepped down, sparking a stretch of high drama and crisis.

The president declared towards the end of the week, hours after gathering leading factions together at the official residence, omitting the figures of the political extremes.

Lecornu's return shocked many, as he stated on national TV only two days ago that he was not interested in returning and his “mission is over”.

It is not even certain whether he will be able to form a government, but he will have to start immediately. He faces a cut-off on the start of the week to submit financial plans before parliament.

Political Challenges and Fiscal Demands

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

Lecornu, who is one of the president's key supporters, then published a long statement on X in which he consented to “out of duty” the mission given to him by the president, to do everything to finalize financial plans by the December and address the daily concerns of our countrymen.

Ideological disagreements over how to lower government borrowing and cut the budget deficit have led to the resignation of two of the past three prime ministers in the past twelve months, so his mission is daunting.

Government liabilities in the past months was close to 114% of economic output (GDP) – the third largest in the currency union – and the annual fiscal gap is projected to hit 5.4 percent of economic output.

Lecornu emphasized that everyone must contribute the need of repairing the nation's budget. In just a year and a half before the conclusion of his term, he advised that anyone joining his government would have to set aside their political goals.

Governing Without a Majority

Adding to the difficulty for the prime minister is that he will face a parliamentary test in a legislative body where the president has no majority to back him. His public standing hit a record low recently, according to an Elabe poll that put his public backing on 14 percent.

The far-right leader of the right-wing group, which was not invited of the president's discussions with political chiefs on the end of the week, commented that the prime minister's return, by a president out of touch at the Élysée, is a “bad joke”.

The National Rally would quickly propose a motion of censure against a doomed coalition, whose sole purpose was dreading polls, Bardella added.

Seeking Support

Lecornu at least understands the obstacles he faces as he tries to establish a cabinet, because he has already devoted 48 hours recently talking to factions that might join his government.

Alone, the moderate factions lack a majority, and there are divisions within the traditionalists who have supported the administration since he lost his majority in the previous vote.

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

As a gesture to progressives, officials suggested the president was thinking of postponing to part of his highly contentious social security adjustments passed in 2023 which increased the pension age from 62 to 64.

It was insufficient of what progressive chiefs wanted, as they were anticipating he would select a prime minister from their camp. Olivier Faure of the Socialists commented “since we've not been given any guarantees, we won't give any guarantee” to back the prime minister.

The Communist figure from the left-wing party commented post-consultation that the progressive camp wanted real change, and a prime minister from the president's centrist camp would not be endorsed by the citizens.

Environmental party head the Green figure remarked she was surprised Macron had offered the left almost nothing to the left, adding that the situation would deteriorate.