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President Emmanuel Macron has asked his former prime minister to come back as French prime minister a mere four days after he stepped down, triggering a stretch of political upheaval and crisis.

The president declared towards the end of the week, hours after gathering key political groups in one place at the presidential palace, except for the leaders of the extremist parties.

Lecornu's return was unexpected, as he declared on television recently that he was not “chasing the job” and his task was complete.

It is not even certain whether he will be able to assemble a cabinet, but he will have to start immediately. He faces a cut-off on the start of the week to present the annual budget before parliament.

Leadership Hurdles and Budgetary Strains

The Élysée said the president had assigned him to build a cabinet, and those close to the president suggested he had been given complete freedom to make decisions.

The prime minister, who is one of the president's key supporters, then published a long statement on social media in which he consented to as an obligation the task entrusted to me by the president, to strive to finalize financial plans by the end of the year and tackle the common issues of our fellow citizens.

Partisan conflicts over how to bring down the country's public debt and cut the budget deficit have resulted in the ouster of two of the past three prime ministers in the past twelve months, so his task is enormous.

Government liabilities recently was close to 114% of national income – the third largest in the euro area – and the annual fiscal gap is projected to reach over five percent of GDP.

Lecornu stated that everyone must contribute the need of repairing the nation's budget. In just a year and a half before the end of Macron's presidency, he warned that anyone joining his government would have to set aside their aspirations for higher office.

Leading Without Support

Adding to the difficulty for the prime minister is that he will face a vote of confidence in a National Assembly where the president has lacks sufficient support to support him. His public standing hit a record low recently, according to research that put his public backing on 14%.

Jordan Bardella of the far-right National Rally, which was excluded of consultations with political chiefs on the end of the week, commented that the prime minister's return, by a president increasingly isolated at the Élysée, is a misstep.

They would promptly introduce a motion of censure against a doomed coalition, whose main motivation was avoiding a vote, Bardella added.

Forming Coalitions

The prime minister at least understands the obstacles he faces as he tries to build a coalition, because he has already spent two days recently consulting factions that might join his government.

Alone, the centrist parties lack a majority, and there are disagreements within the right-leaning party who have helped prop up Macron's governments since he failed to secure enough seats in elections last year.

So he will look to progressive groups for future alliances.

In an attempt to court the left, the president's advisors indicated the president was considering a delay to portions of his controversial pension reforms enacted last year which extended working life from the early sixties.

It was insufficient of what left-wing leaders wanted, as they were hoping he would select a leader from their side. Olivier Faure of the Socialists commented without assurances, they would offer no support in a vote of confidence.

Fabien Roussel from the Communists stated following discussions that the left wanted genuine reform, and a leader from the president's centrist camp would not be supported by the public.

Environmental party head the Green figure said she was “stunned” Macron had provided few concessions to the left, adding that the situation would deteriorate.