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The French leader has called upon Sébastien Lecornu to resume duties as French prime minister just days after he stepped down, sparking a stretch of political upheaval and instability.

Macron made the announcement late on Friday, hours after gathering all the main parties together at the presidential palace, excluding the leaders of the far right and far left.

The decision to reinstate him was unexpected, as he stated on national TV only two days ago that he was not seeking the position and his task was complete.

There is uncertainty whether he will be able to form a government, but he will have to start immediately. Lecornu faces a deadline on the start of the week to submit financial plans before lawmakers.

Political Challenges and Fiscal Demands

Officials announced the president had assigned him to build a cabinet, and Macron's entourage indicated he had been given full authority to proceed.

The prime minister, who is one of Macron's closest allies, then published a detailed message on X in which he accepted as an obligation the assignment given to him by the president, to make every effort to provide France with a budget by the December and respond to the everyday problems of our countrymen.

Political divisions over how to bring down government borrowing and cut the budget deficit have caused the fall of two of the past three prime ministers in the recent period, so his task is immense.

France's public debt earlier this year was nearly 114 percent of economic output (GDP) – the third highest in the euro area – and this year's budget deficit is projected to hit 5.4 percent of GDP.

The premier said that no one can avoid the necessity of restoring the nation's budget. With only 18 months before the conclusion of his term, he warned that those in the cabinet would have to set aside their political goals.

Leading Without Support

Compounding the challenge for the prime minister is that he will face a show of support in a parliament where the president has lacks sufficient support to endorse his government. His public standing hit a record low in the latest survey, according to a survey that put his public backing on just 14%.

Jordan Bardella of the right-wing group, which was excluded of the president's discussions with political chiefs on Friday, said that the prime minister's return, by a president increasingly isolated at the presidential palace, is a misstep.

They would quickly propose a motion of censure against a failing government, whose main motivation was dreading polls, he continued.

Forming Coalitions

The prime minister at least is aware of the challenges he faces as he tries to form a government, because he has already spent two days recently consulting political groups that might support him.

On their own, the central groups cannot form a government, and there are splits within the right-leaning party who have supported Macron's governments since he lost his majority in recent polls.

So he will look to left-wing parties for future alliances.

As a gesture to progressives, Macron's team suggested the president was evaluating a pause to some aspects of his highly contentious social security adjustments implemented recently which extended working life from 62 up to 64.

That fell short of what socialist figures desired, as they were hoping he would select a premier from their side. The Socialist leader of the leftist party stated lacking commitments, they would withhold backing to back the prime minister.

The Communist figure from the Communists said after meeting the president that the left wanted substantive shifts, and a leader from the moderate faction would not be supported by the French people.

Greens leader Marine Tondelier said she was “stunned” the president had provided few concessions to the left, adding that the situation would deteriorate.