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President Emmanuel Macron has asked Sébastien Lecornu to return as French prime minister just days after he resigned, causing a stretch of high drama and instability.

Macron stated towards the end of the week, following gathering all the main parties collectively at the Élysée Palace, except for the leaders of the political extremes.

The decision to reinstate him was unexpected, as he said on television just 48 hours prior that he was not seeking the position and his task was complete.

It is not even certain whether he will be able to establish a ruling coalition, but he will have to start immediately. The new prime minister faces a cut-off on Monday to submit financial plans before parliament.

Governing Obstacles and Budgetary Strains

The Élysée announced the president had “tasked [Lecornu] with forming a government”, and his advisors implied he had been given complete freedom to act.

Lecornu, who is one of a trusted associate, then released a detailed message on social media in which he accepted as an obligation the assignment entrusted to me by the president, to strive to finalize financial plans by the December and address the common issues of our fellow citizens.

Political divisions over how to lower France's national debt and balance the books have resulted in the fall of several leaders in the last year, so his mission is daunting.

Government liabilities in the past months was close to 114% of national income – the third largest in the currency union – and the annual fiscal gap is projected to reach over five percent of economic output.

The premier said that no one can avoid the need of fixing the nation's budget. Given the limited time before the conclusion of his term, he advised that anyone joining his government would have to put on hold their political goals.

Ruling Amid Division

Compounding the challenge for Lecornu is that he will face a vote of confidence in a legislative body where the president has lacks sufficient support to endorse his government. Macron's approval hit a record low this week, according to a survey that put his approval rating on 14 percent.

Jordan Bardella of the National Rally party, which was excluded of the president's discussions with faction heads on the end of the week, said that the prime minister's return, by a president increasingly isolated at the presidential palace, is a misstep.

They would quickly propose a challenge against a failing government, whose main motivation was avoiding a vote, he continued.

Forming Coalitions

Lecornu at least understands the obstacles ahead as he tries to form a government, because he has already spent two days recently meeting with factions that might support him.

By themselves, the central groups cannot form a government, and there are splits within the traditionalists who have supported the administration since he lacked support in the previous vote.

So Lecornu will seek progressive groups for future alliances.

To gain leftist support, officials indicated the president was thinking of postponing to portions of his divisive pension reforms passed in 2023 which extended working life from 62 up to 64.

The offer was inadequate of what progressive chiefs desired, as they were anticipating he would appoint a premier from the left. 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 commented post-consultation that the left wanted genuine reform, and a leader from the central bloc would not be accepted by the citizens.

Greens leader Marine Tondelier expressed shock Macron had given minimal offers to the left, adding that outcomes would be negative.