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President Emmanuel Macron has called upon Sébastien Lecornu to return as French prime minister a mere four days after he left the post, triggering a period of high drama and instability.

Macron declared late on Friday, shortly after meeting leading factions in one place at the presidential palace, omitting the figures of the extremist parties.

The decision to reinstate him came as a surprise, as he stated on television only two days ago that he was not interested in returning and his task was complete.

Doubts remain whether he will be able to form a government, but he will have to act quickly. Lecornu faces a time limit on the start of the week to submit financial plans before lawmakers.

Governing Obstacles and Economic Pressures

The Élysée said the president had given him the duty of creating a administration, and those close to the president suggested he had been given complete freedom to proceed.

Lecornu, who is one of a trusted associate, then published a long statement on an online platform in which he agreed to take on responsibly the task assigned by the president, to make every effort to provide France with a budget by the year's conclusion and respond to the common issues of our compatriots.

Political divisions over how to reduce the country's public debt and reduce the fiscal shortfall have caused the resignation of two of the past three prime ministers in the recent period, so his task is immense.

The nation's debt recently was almost 114% of national income – the number three in the eurozone – and current shortfall is expected to amount to over five percent of GDP.

The premier said that no one can avoid the necessity of repairing government accounts. In just a year and a half before the conclusion of his term, he warned that prospective ministers would have to put on hold their aspirations for higher office.

Ruling Amid Division

What makes it even harder for Lecornu is that he will face a vote of confidence in a National Assembly where the president has is short of votes to back him. The president's popularity hit a record low this week, according to an Elabe poll that put his public backing on 14%.

The far-right leader of the right-wing group, which was left out of Macron's talks with faction heads on the end of the week, commented that Lecornu's reappointment, by a president “more than ever isolated and disconnected” at the official residence, is a “bad joke”.

The National Rally would promptly introduce a challenge against a struggling administration, whose sole purpose was dreading polls, Bardella added.

Forming Coalitions

Lecornu at least understands the obstacles in his path as he tries to form a government, because he has already devoted 48 hours this week meeting with parties that might join his government.

On their own, the centrist parties lack a majority, and there are divisions within the traditionalists who have supported the administration since he lost his majority in recent polls.

So he will look to socialist factions for future alliances.

As a gesture to progressives, officials suggested the president was thinking of postponing to some aspects of his controversial retirement changes passed in 2023 which increased the pension age from the early sixties.

The offer was inadequate of what left-wing leaders hoped for, as they were expecting he would choose a prime minister from their side. Olivier Faure of the Socialists commented “since we've not been given any guarantees, we won't give any guarantee” for the premier.

The Communist figure from the left-wing party commented post-consultation that the progressive camp wanted real change, and a premier from the moderate faction would not be endorsed by the public.

Environmental party head Marine Tondelier expressed shock the president had given minimal offers to the left, adding that the situation would deteriorate.