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The French leader has called upon his former prime minister to resume duties as the nation's premier just days after he resigned, triggering a week of intense uncertainty and political turmoil.

The president made the announcement on Friday evening, shortly after consulting with leading factions in one place at the Élysée Palace, excluding the representatives of the far right and far left.

The decision to reinstate him shocked many, as he stated on national TV recently that he was not seeking the position and his “mission is over”.

It is not even certain whether he will be able to establish a ruling coalition, but he will have to hit the ground running. He faces a deadline on Monday to submit financial plans before lawmakers.

Political Challenges and Fiscal Demands

The Élysée confirmed the president had given him the duty of creating a administration, and his advisors implied he had been given “carte blanche” to proceed.

Lecornu, who is one of Macron's closest allies, then published a detailed message on an online platform in which he accepted responsibly the mission given to him by the president, to make every effort to provide France with a budget by the year's conclusion and address the daily concerns of our countrymen.

Political divisions over how to reduce the country's public debt and cut the budget deficit have led to the resignation of multiple premiers in the last year, so his challenge is immense.

The nation's debt in the past months was close to 114% of gross domestic product – the third largest in the euro area – and the annual fiscal gap is expected to reach over five percent of economic output.

Lecornu emphasized that “no-one will be able to shirk” the need of restoring France's public finances. Given the limited time before the conclusion of his term, he cautioned that anyone joining his government would have to set aside their political goals.

Ruling Amid Division

Adding to the difficulty for the prime minister is that he will face a show of support in a National Assembly where Macron has no majority to back him. Macron's approval plummeted in the latest survey, according to an Elabe poll that put his public backing on just 14%.

The far-right leader of the far-right National Rally, which was not invited of the president's discussions with faction heads on the end of the week, said that the decision, by a president out of touch at the Élysée, is a misstep.

They would immediately bring a challenge against a struggling administration, whose only reason for being was dreading polls, the leader stated.

Building Alliances

Lecornu at least understands the obstacles in his path as he tries to form a government, because he has already spent two days recently consulting parties that might participate in his administration.

Alone, the centrist parties are insufficient, and there are disagreements within the traditionalists who have supported the ruling coalition since he lost his majority in elections last year.

So Lecornu will consider progressive groups for potential support.

As a gesture to progressives, the president's advisors indicated the president was thinking of postponing to part of his controversial social security adjustments enacted last year which increased the pension age from the early sixties.

That fell short of what left-wing leaders wanted, as they were hoping he would appoint a premier from their camp. The Socialist leader of the Socialists stated “since we've not been given any guarantees, we won't give any guarantee” to back the prime minister.

The Communist figure from the Communists said after meeting the president that the left wanted genuine reform, and a prime minister from the central bloc would not be endorsed by the public.

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