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President Emmanuel Macron has asked his former prime minister to come back as French prime minister just days after he stepped down, sparking a week of high drama and instability.

Macron declared late on Friday, shortly after gathering all the main parties collectively at the Élysée Palace, excluding the figures of the political extremes.

Lecornu's return was unexpected, as he stated on television only two days ago that he was not interested in returning and his role had concluded.

It is not even certain whether he will be able to form a government, but he will have to start immediately. The new prime minister faces a deadline on the start of the week to submit financial plans before parliament.

Political Challenges and Economic Pressures

The presidency announced the president had given him the duty of creating a administration, and Macron's entourage suggested he had been given “carte blanche” to act.

Lecornu, who is one of the president's key supporters, then published a comprehensive announcement on X in which he agreed to take on “out of duty” the assignment entrusted to me by the president, to do everything to finalize financial plans by the year's conclusion and tackle the daily concerns of our compatriots.

Political divisions over how to reduce the country's public debt and balance the books have resulted in the ouster of two of the past three prime ministers in the recent period, so his challenge is immense.

Government liabilities recently was close to 114% of national income – the number three in the currency union – and the annual fiscal gap is estimated to reach 5.4 percent of economic output.

Lecornu stated that “no-one will be able to shirk” the imperative of fixing government accounts. With only 18 months before the end of Macron's presidency, he advised that anyone joining his government would have to delay their political goals.

Ruling Amid Division

What makes it even harder for the prime minister is that he will face a vote of confidence in a parliament where Macron has no majority to endorse his government. His public standing hit a record low this week, according to a survey that put his approval rating on 14 percent.

The far-right leader of the far-right National Rally, which was excluded of Macron's talks with party leaders on Friday, remarked that Lecornu's reappointment, by a president increasingly isolated at the Élysée, is a “bad joke”.

His party would promptly introduce a motion of censure against a failing government, whose only reason for being was dreading polls, the leader stated.

Forming Coalitions

Lecornu at least understands the obstacles in his path as he tries to establish a cabinet, because he has already used time this week consulting factions that might support him.

By themselves, the central groups cannot form a government, and there are splits within the right-leaning party who have supported the administration since he lacked support in elections last year.

So Lecornu will seek socialist factions for possible backing.

To gain leftist support, officials hinted the president was evaluating a pause to part of his controversial pension reforms implemented recently which increased the pension age from 62 up to 64.

The offer was inadequate of what socialist figures hoped for, as they were hoping he would choose a premier from the left. Olivier Faure of the leftist party commented “since we've not been given any guarantees, we won't give any guarantee” in a vote of confidence.

The Communist figure from the left-wing party stated following discussions that the left wanted real change, and a leader from the moderate faction would not be supported by the French people.

Environmental party head Marine Tondelier said she was “stunned” Macron had provided few concessions to the progressives, adding that the situation would deteriorate.