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President Emmanuel Macron has called upon Sébastien Lecornu to return as French prime minister just days after he resigned, causing a period of high drama and political turmoil.

The president declared late on Friday, following consulting with key political groups together at the Élysée Palace, excluding the representatives of the far right and far left.

Lecornu's return was unexpected, as he said on television only two days ago that he was not “chasing the job” and his role had concluded.

Doubts remain whether he will be able to assemble a cabinet, but he will have to start immediately. The new prime minister faces a cut-off on Monday to submit financial plans before parliament.

Political Challenges and Budgetary Strains

The presidency announced the president had assigned him to build a cabinet, and his advisors indicated he had been given full authority to make decisions.

Lecornu, who is one of a trusted associate, then published a long statement on an online platform in which he accepted as an obligation the task given to him by the president, to strive to finalize financial plans by the December and respond to the common issues of our countrymen.

Partisan conflicts over how to lower government borrowing and balance the books have led to the fall of two of the past three prime ministers in the last year, so his challenge is enormous.

Government liabilities recently was almost 114% of national income – the number three in the currency union – and the annual fiscal gap is projected to reach 5.4 percent of GDP.

The premier said that no one can avoid the need of repairing the nation's budget. With only 18 months before the completion of his mandate, he cautioned that prospective ministers would have to delay their aspirations for higher office.

Ruling Amid Division

What makes it even harder for Lecornu is that he will face a show of support in a legislative body where the president has lacks sufficient support to endorse his government. Macron's approval plummeted this week, according to research that put his approval rating on 14%.

Jordan Bardella of the far-right National Rally, which was excluded of Macron's talks with faction heads on Friday, commented that the prime minister's return, by a president out of touch at the Élysée, is a poor decision.

They would promptly introduce a vote of no confidence against a doomed coalition, whose sole purpose was dreading polls, he continued.

Building Alliances

The prime minister at least is aware of the challenges he faces as he tries to establish a cabinet, because he has already used time recently consulting political groups that might join his government.

Alone, the moderate factions lack a majority, and there are splits within the conservative Republicans who have helped prop up the administration since he lacked support in recent polls.

So he will seek left-wing parties for potential support.

As a gesture to progressives, Macron's team suggested the president was evaluating a pause to part of his divisive pension reforms passed in 2023 which extended working life from the early sixties.

It was insufficient of what progressive chiefs wanted, as they were expecting he would select a prime minister from their camp. Olivier Faure of the Socialists said lacking commitments, they would withhold backing to back the prime minister.

The Communist figure from the left-wing party stated following discussions that the progressive camp wanted substantive shifts, and a prime minister from the moderate faction would not be supported by the French people.

Environmental party head the Green figure expressed shock Macron had given minimal offers to the progressives, adding that outcomes would be negative.