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President Emmanuel Macron has called upon his former prime minister to resume duties as French prime minister just days after he resigned, causing a period of political upheaval and crisis.

The president made the announcement on Friday evening, hours after consulting with all the main parties together at the presidential palace, excluding the representatives of the political extremes.

Lecornu's return was unexpected, as he declared on television recently that he was not seeking the position and his task was complete.

It is not even certain whether he will be able to assemble a cabinet, but he will have to start immediately. He faces a deadline on Monday to submit financial plans before parliament.

Governing Obstacles and Budgetary Strains

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

The prime minister, who is one of the president's key supporters, then released a comprehensive announcement on X in which he accepted as an obligation the mission assigned by the president, to make every effort to provide France with a budget by the year's conclusion and tackle the everyday problems of our fellow citizens.

Political divisions over how to bring down France's national debt and cut the budget deficit have led to the fall of two of the past three prime ministers in the last year, so his task is daunting.

The nation's debt earlier this year was almost 114% of economic output (GDP) – the number three in the euro area – and current shortfall is expected to hit 5.4 percent of the economy.

The premier emphasized that no one can avoid the necessity of repairing government accounts. Given the limited time before the conclusion of his term, he warned that anyone joining his government would have to put on hold their political goals.

Governing Without a Majority

What makes it even harder for Lecornu is that he will face a parliamentary test in a parliament where Macron has is short of votes to endorse his government. Macron's approval plummeted this week, according to research that put his approval rating on 14%.

Jordan Bardella of the right-wing group, which was excluded of Macron's talks with faction heads on the end of the week, remarked that the decision, by a president increasingly isolated at the official residence, is a misstep.

The National Rally would quickly propose a vote of no confidence against a doomed coalition, whose only reason for being was dreading polls, Bardella added.

Seeking Support

Lecornu at least knows the pitfalls he faces as he tries to establish a cabinet, because he has already spent two days lately meeting with political groups that might participate in his administration.

Alone, the centrist parties lack a majority, and there are disagreements within the traditionalists who have helped prop up the ruling coalition since he lost his majority in elections last year.

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

In an attempt to court the left, Macron's team indicated the president was evaluating a pause to some aspects of his highly contentious social security adjustments passed in 2023 which extended working life from 62 up to 64.

That fell short of what left-wing leaders wanted, as they were hoping he would appoint a leader from the left. Olivier Faure of the Socialists said without assurances, they would offer no support in a vote of confidence.

The Communist figure from the left-wing party said after meeting the president that the progressive camp wanted substantive shifts, and a leader from the president's centrist camp would not be endorsed by the public.

Environmental party head Marine Tondelier remarked she was surprised Macron had given minimal offers to the left, adding that the situation would deteriorate.