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The French leader has asked his former prime minister to come back as French prime minister only four days after he resigned, sparking a period of high drama and crisis.

The president made the announcement towards the end of the week, shortly after consulting with key political groups in one place at the official residence, excluding the leaders of the far right and far left.

His reappointment shocked many, as he declared on television just 48 hours prior that he was not “chasing the job” and his “mission is over”.

Doubts remain whether he will be able to establish a ruling coalition, but he will have to start immediately. The new prime minister faces a time limit on Monday to submit financial plans before the National Assembly.

Political Challenges and Economic Pressures

The Élysée confirmed the president had assigned him to build a cabinet, and those close to the president implied he had been given full authority to act.

Lecornu, who is one of a trusted associate, then released a comprehensive announcement on an online platform in which he agreed to take on responsibly the mission entrusted to me by the president, to make every effort to provide France with a budget by the year's conclusion and tackle the common issues of our compatriots.

Political divisions over how to bring down the country's public debt and reduce the fiscal shortfall have caused the fall of several leaders in the recent period, so his challenge is enormous.

Government liabilities earlier this year was almost 114% of national income – the third largest in the eurozone – and current shortfall is expected to hit 5.4% of GDP.

The premier stated that everyone must contribute the need of restoring government accounts. In just a year and a half before the end of Macron's presidency, he cautioned that anyone joining his government would have to put on hold their political goals.

Ruling Amid Division

Adding to the difficulty for Lecornu is that he will face a show of support in a legislative body where the president has no majority to back him. His public standing plummeted in the latest survey, according to research that put his support level on 14 percent.

Jordan Bardella of the National Rally party, which was not invited of Macron's talks with party leaders on the end of the week, commented that the prime minister's return, by a president out of touch at the official residence, is a “bad joke”.

The National Rally would immediately bring a challenge against a doomed coalition, whose main motivation was avoiding a vote, Bardella added.

Seeking Support

The prime minister at least understands the obstacles ahead as he tries to build a coalition, because he has already used time recently consulting parties that might support him.

On their own, the central groups lack a majority, and there are divisions within the traditionalists who have assisted Macron's governments since he failed to secure enough seats in the previous vote.

So Lecornu will consider progressive groups for possible backing.

To gain leftist support, officials hinted the president was considering a delay to portions of his controversial pension reforms implemented recently which increased the pension age from the early sixties.

That fell short of what socialist figures hoped for, as they were expecting he would select a prime minister from their camp. Olivier Faure of the leftist party commented without assurances, they would offer no support for the premier.

The Communist figure from the left-wing party commented post-consultation that the progressive camp wanted substantive shifts, and a prime minister from the president's centrist camp would not be supported by the citizens.

Greens leader Marine Tondelier expressed shock Macron had provided few concessions to the left, adding that the situation would deteriorate.