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President Emmanuel Macron has called upon his former prime minister to come back as the nation's premier only four days after he resigned, sparking a week of intense uncertainty and instability.

Macron declared towards the end of the week, following consulting with all the main parties in one place at the presidential palace, excluding the leaders of the political extremes.

His reappointment came as a surprise, as he stated on television only two days ago that he was not interested in returning and his role had concluded.

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 put next year's budget before the National Assembly.

Political Challenges and Fiscal Demands

The Élysée confirmed the president had given him the duty of creating a administration, 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 published a comprehensive announcement on an online platform in which he accepted as an obligation the task entrusted to me by the president, to make every effort to secure a national budget by the December and tackle the common issues of our compatriots.

Partisan conflicts over how to reduce government borrowing and balance the books have caused the resignation of multiple premiers in the last year, so his mission is daunting.

The nation's debt earlier this year was close to 114% of national income – the third highest in the euro area – and current shortfall is estimated to hit 5.4 percent of GDP.

The premier stated that everyone must contribute the need of restoring government accounts. In just a year and a half before the completion of his mandate, he advised that those in the cabinet would have to set aside their presidential ambitions.

Leading Without Support

Compounding the challenge for the prime minister is that he will face a parliamentary test in a legislative body where Macron has is short of votes to support him. The president's popularity reached its lowest point in the latest survey, according to a survey that put his approval rating on 14 percent.

Jordan Bardella of the far-right National Rally, which was left out of consultations with faction heads on Friday, commented that Lecornu's reappointment, by a president “more than ever isolated and disconnected” at the Élysée, is a poor decision.

The National Rally would quickly propose a motion of censure against a doomed coalition, whose main motivation was fear of an election, he continued.

Forming Coalitions

The prime minister at least is aware of the challenges ahead as he tries to build a coalition, because he has already spent two days lately meeting with factions that might participate in his administration.

By themselves, the central groups cannot form a government, and there are splits within the traditionalists who have supported Macron's governments since he lacked support in the previous vote.

So Lecornu will consider left-wing parties for possible backing.

As a gesture to progressives, the president's advisors suggested the president was considering a delay to portions of his divisive social security adjustments enacted last year which raised the retirement age from the early sixties.

It was insufficient of what socialist figures hoped for, as they were anticipating he would choose a prime minister from their side. The Socialist leader of the Socialists commented without assurances, they would offer no support in a vote of confidence.

Fabien Roussel from the Communists commented post-consultation that the left wanted real change, and a premier from the central bloc would not be accepted by the citizens.

Environmental party head Marine Tondelier expressed shock Macron had provided few concessions to the progressives, adding that “all of this is going to turn out very badly”.