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President Emmanuel Macron has requested Sébastien Lecornu to resume duties as head of government just days after he stepped down, sparking a week of intense uncertainty and political turmoil.

Macron declared late on Friday, shortly after gathering key political groups together at the official residence, omitting the figures of the far right and far left.

The decision to reinstate him shocked many, as he said on broadcast just 48 hours prior that he was not seeking the position and his role had concluded.

It is not even certain whether he will be able to form a government, but he will have to hit the ground running. He faces a time limit on Monday to submit financial plans before parliament.

Leadership Hurdles and Economic Pressures

The presidency announced the president had assigned him to build a cabinet, and Macron's entourage implied he had been given “carte blanche” to make decisions.

Lecornu, who is one of a trusted associate, then released a detailed message on social media in which he agreed to take on responsibly the assignment assigned by the president, to make every effort to finalize financial plans by the end of the year and tackle the daily concerns of our countrymen.

Ideological disagreements over how to reduce government borrowing and cut the budget deficit have led to the resignation of multiple premiers in the past twelve months, so his task is immense.

France's public debt recently was almost 114% of gross domestic product – the number three in the euro area – and the annual fiscal gap is projected to amount to 5.4% of GDP.

The premier said that “no-one will be able to shirk” the need of repairing France's public finances. With only 18 months before the conclusion of his term, he warned that those in the cabinet would have to delay their aspirations for higher office.

Leading Without Support

What makes it even harder for Lecornu is that he will face a vote of confidence in a parliament where Macron has lacks sufficient support to back him. The president's popularity plummeted in the latest survey, according to research that put his support level on just 14%.

Jordan Bardella of the far-right National Rally, which was not invited of Macron's talks with party leaders on the end of the week, said that Lecornu's reappointment, by a president increasingly isolated at the Élysée, is a poor decision.

The National Rally would promptly introduce a vote of no confidence against a failing government, whose sole purpose was avoiding a vote, the leader stated.

Building Alliances

The prime minister at least is aware of the challenges in his path as he tries to form a government, because he has already used time this week talking to factions that might support him.

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

So Lecornu will consider left-wing parties for future alliances.

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

The offer was inadequate of what socialist figures desired, as they were expecting he would appoint a prime minister from their side. The Socialist leader of the leftist party said lacking commitments, they would withhold backing for the premier.

Fabien Roussel from the Communists said after meeting the president that the left wanted substantive shifts, and a leader from the moderate faction would not be endorsed by the public.

Environmental party head Marine Tondelier said she was “stunned” the president had given minimal offers to the progressives, adding that the situation would deteriorate.