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President Emmanuel Macron has requested his former prime minister to return as head of government only four days after he left the post, sparking a stretch of high drama and political turmoil.

Macron made the announcement towards the end of the week, shortly after consulting with key political groups collectively at the presidential palace, omitting the leaders of the political extremes.

The decision to reinstate him shocked many, as he stated on broadcast recently that he was not “chasing the job” and his “mission is over”.

Doubts remain whether he will be able to form a government, but he will have to act quickly. He faces a cut-off on the start of the week to present the annual budget before the National Assembly.

Governing Obstacles and Budgetary Strains

The presidency confirmed the president had given him the duty of creating a administration, and his advisors suggested he had been given complete freedom to proceed.

Lecornu, who is one of a trusted associate, then released a long statement on X in which he accepted responsibly the task entrusted to me by the president, to make every effort to finalize financial plans by the December and respond to the common issues of our countrymen.

Ideological disagreements over how to bring down the country's public debt and balance the books have led to the fall of several leaders in the recent period, so his task is immense.

The nation's debt recently was close to 114% of gross domestic product – the number three in the eurozone – and this year's budget deficit is expected to amount to 5.4% of the economy.

Lecornu stated that “no-one will be able to shirk” the need of repairing government accounts. In just a year and a half before the conclusion of his term, he warned that prospective ministers would have to delay their political goals.

Ruling Amid Division

What makes it even harder for the prime minister is that he will face a vote of confidence in a National Assembly where the president has is short of votes to endorse his government. The president's popularity reached its lowest point this week, according to an Elabe poll that put his support level on 14%.

The far-right leader of the National Rally party, which was left out of consultations with party leaders on Friday, commented that the decision, by a president out of touch at the official residence, is a “bad joke”.

His party would quickly propose a motion of censure against a doomed coalition, whose only reason for being was dreading polls, he continued.

Forming Coalitions

The prime minister at least knows the pitfalls in his path as he tries to establish a cabinet, because he has already devoted 48 hours this week talking to political groups that might support him.

By themselves, the central groups lack a majority, and there are divisions within the conservative Republicans who have assisted the ruling coalition since he lost his majority in elections last year.

So he will look to left-wing parties for possible backing.

In an attempt to court the left, Macron's team indicated the president was considering a delay to part of his highly contentious social security adjustments passed in 2023 which increased the pension age from the early sixties.

That fell short of what socialist figures wanted, as they were anticipating he would appoint a prime minister from their side. Olivier Faure of the Socialists said lacking commitments, they would withhold backing in a vote of confidence.

The Communist figure from the left-wing party said after meeting the president that the left wanted real change, and a premier from the central bloc would not be endorsed by the public.

Environmental party head the Green figure remarked she was surprised Macron had provided few concessions to the progressives, adding that the situation would deteriorate.