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President Emmanuel Macron has called upon Sébastien Lecornu to resume duties as head of government only four days after he left the post, causing a period of intense uncertainty and crisis.

Macron made the announcement towards the end of the week, shortly after gathering leading factions collectively at the official residence, except for the leaders of the political extremes.

The decision to reinstate him shocked many, as he declared on national TV recently that he was not interested in returning and his task was complete.

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

Leadership Hurdles and Fiscal Demands

Officials announced the president had assigned him to build a cabinet, and Macron's entourage suggested he had been given full authority to act.

Lecornu, who is one of a trusted associate, then issued a long statement on X in which he accepted “out of duty” the task entrusted to me by the president, to do everything to secure a national budget by the December and address the everyday problems of our fellow citizens.

Ideological disagreements over how to reduce the country's public debt and balance the books have led to the ouster of two of the past three prime ministers in the last year, so his challenge is daunting.

The nation's debt in the past months was close to 114% of economic output (GDP) – the third largest in the eurozone – and the annual fiscal gap is expected to hit 5.4 percent of economic output.

Lecornu said that everyone must contribute the need of repairing the nation's budget. In just a year and a half before the completion of his mandate, he advised that those in the cabinet would have to put on hold their political goals.

Ruling Amid Division

What makes it even harder for the prime minister is that he will face a parliamentary test in a legislative body where Macron has is short of votes to support him. Macron's approval hit a record low in the latest survey, according to a survey that put his public backing on 14 percent.

The far-right leader of the far-right National Rally, which was excluded of Macron's talks with political chiefs on Friday, remarked that the decision, by a president increasingly isolated at the presidential palace, is a poor decision.

The National Rally would promptly introduce a motion of censure against a struggling administration, whose main motivation was dreading polls, the leader stated.

Forming Coalitions

The prime minister at least is aware of the challenges ahead as he tries to form a government, because he has already devoted 48 hours this week consulting political groups that might participate in his administration.

By themselves, the centrist parties cannot form a government, and there are splits within the conservative Republicans who have assisted the administration since he lacked support in the previous vote.

So he will seek left-wing parties for future alliances.

In an attempt to court the left, officials hinted the president was evaluating a pause to some aspects of his controversial retirement changes implemented recently which extended working life from 62 to 64.

That fell short of what left-wing leaders desired, as they were anticipating he would appoint a leader from the left. 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 Communists stated following discussions that the left wanted real change, and a leader from the moderate faction would not be accepted by the French people.

Greens leader the Green figure expressed shock Macron had provided few concessions to the left, adding that “all of this is going to turn out very badly”.