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The French leader has asked his former prime minister to return as French prime minister a mere four days after he left the post, sparking a week of political upheaval and political turmoil.

Macron declared late on Friday, hours after gathering key political groups collectively at the presidential palace, omitting the figures of the political extremes.

His reappointment was unexpected, as he said on national TV recently that he was not “chasing the job” and his task was complete.

Doubts remain whether he will be able to assemble a cabinet, but he will have to hit the ground running. Lecornu faces a cut-off on the start of the week to present the annual budget before parliament.

Leadership Hurdles and Economic Pressures

The presidency announced the president had assigned him to build a cabinet, and his advisors indicated he had been given “carte blanche” to act.

The prime minister, who is one of the president's key supporters, then issued a long statement on social media in which he agreed to take on responsibly the mission given to him by the president, to do everything to finalize financial plans by the December and address the everyday problems of our countrymen.

Partisan conflicts over how to lower the country's public debt and reduce the fiscal shortfall have resulted in the resignation of multiple premiers in the recent period, so his mission is daunting.

The nation's debt in the past months was nearly 114 percent of national income – the third highest in the currency union – and this year's budget deficit is estimated to amount to 5.4 percent of the economy.

Lecornu emphasized that no one can avoid the need of restoring government accounts. In just a year and a half before the conclusion of his term, he advised that anyone joining his government would have to put on hold their aspirations for higher office.

Leading Without Support

Compounding the challenge for Lecornu is that he will face a show of support in a National Assembly where Macron has no majority to endorse his government. His public standing hit a record low this week, according to research that put his support level on just 14%.

The far-right leader of the National Rally party, which was excluded of consultations with political chiefs on Friday, commented that Lecornu's reappointment, by a president increasingly isolated at the official residence, is a misstep.

They would promptly introduce a vote of no confidence against a struggling administration, whose only reason for being was avoiding a vote, the leader stated.

Building Alliances

Lecornu at least is aware of the challenges in his path as he tries to establish a cabinet, because he has already spent two days this week meeting with parties that might support him.

Alone, the moderate factions lack a majority, and there are disagreements within the traditionalists who have assisted the ruling coalition since he lacked support in elections last year.

So Lecornu will look to socialist factions for potential support.

In an attempt to court the left, Macron's team suggested the president was evaluating a pause to portions of his highly contentious retirement changes implemented recently which increased the pension age from the early sixties.

The offer was inadequate of what progressive chiefs wanted, as they were hoping he would appoint a leader from the left. Olivier Faure of the Socialists said lacking commitments, they would withhold backing in a vote of confidence.

Fabien Roussel from the Communists said after meeting the president that the progressive camp wanted real change, and a prime minister from the moderate faction would not be supported by the public.

Greens leader the Green figure remarked she was surprised Macron had offered the left almost nothing to the progressives, adding that “all of this is going to turn out very badly”.