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President Emmanuel Macron has called upon his former prime minister to resume duties as head of government a mere four days after he resigned, triggering a week of intense uncertainty and political turmoil.

The president stated towards the end of the week, hours after gathering key political groups together at the Élysée Palace, excluding the leaders of the far right and far left.

His reappointment was unexpected, as he declared on broadcast only two days ago that he was not “chasing the job” and his task was complete.

Doubts remain whether he will be able to form a government, but he will have to start immediately. Lecornu faces a cut-off on the start of the week to present the annual budget before parliament.

Governing Obstacles and Budgetary Strains

The Élysée confirmed 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 make decisions.

The prime minister, who is one of a trusted associate, then issued a long statement on an online platform in which he agreed to take on as an obligation the assignment entrusted to me by the president, to do everything to secure a national budget by the year's conclusion and respond to the everyday problems of our fellow citizens.

Ideological disagreements over how to reduce France's national debt and reduce the fiscal shortfall have led to the resignation of multiple premiers 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 number three in the eurozone – and the annual fiscal gap is projected to amount to 5.4% of the economy.

The premier said that everyone must contribute the need of repairing France's public finances. With only 18 months before the end of Macron's presidency, he advised that anyone joining his government would have to delay their aspirations for higher office.

Governing Without a Majority

Adding to the difficulty for the prime minister is that he will face a vote of confidence in a legislative body where Macron has is short of votes to back him. The president's popularity reached its lowest point recently, according to an Elabe poll that put his support level on just 14%.

Jordan Bardella of the National Rally party, which was excluded of the president's discussions with party leaders on the end of the week, commented that the decision, by a president increasingly isolated at the Élysée, is a “bad joke”.

The National Rally would quickly propose a vote of no confidence against a doomed coalition, whose sole purpose was fear of an election, Bardella added.

Forming Coalitions

The prime minister at least knows the pitfalls he faces 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.

Alone, the centrist parties are insufficient, and there are splits within the conservative Republicans who have supported Macron's governments since he failed to secure enough seats in elections last year.

So he will seek progressive groups for potential support.

As a gesture to progressives, officials indicated the president was evaluating a pause to portions of his highly contentious pension reforms enacted last year which increased the pension age from 62 up to 64.

It was insufficient of what left-wing leaders wanted, as they were anticipating he would select a leader from their side. Olivier Faure of the leftist party commented lacking commitments, they would withhold backing for the premier.

Fabien Roussel from the Communists stated following discussions that the progressive camp wanted substantive shifts, and a premier from the president's centrist camp would not be endorsed by the citizens.

Environmental party head the Green figure remarked she was surprised the president had offered the left almost nothing to the left, adding that the situation would deteriorate.