President Emmanuel Macron Brings Back Lecornu as French PM In the Wake of Days of Instability

President Emmanuel Macron has requested his former prime minister to come back as French prime minister a mere four days after he resigned, sparking a period of intense uncertainty and crisis.

The president stated on Friday evening, following meeting key political groups collectively at the Élysée Palace, excluding the figures of the political extremes.

Lecornu's return shocked many, as he declared on television 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. The new prime minister faces a time limit on Monday to put next year's budget before the National Assembly.

Leadership Hurdles and Fiscal Demands

The Élysée announced the president had “tasked [Lecornu] with forming a government”, and Macron's entourage suggested he had been given complete freedom to make decisions.

The prime minister, who is one of a trusted associate, then released a long statement on an online platform in which he accepted “out of duty” the assignment given to him by the president, to do everything to finalize financial plans by the December and address the daily concerns of our fellow citizens.

Partisan conflicts over how to reduce the country's public debt and cut the budget deficit have caused the resignation of multiple premiers in the last year, so his task is immense.

The nation's debt earlier this year was almost 114% of national income – the number three in the eurozone – and this year's budget deficit is expected to reach 5.4 percent of economic output.

The premier said that no one can avoid the need of repairing France's public finances. With only 18 months before the completion of his mandate, he cautioned that prospective ministers would have to put on hold their aspirations for higher office.

Leading Without Support

What makes it even harder for the prime minister is that he will face a show of support in a parliament where the president has no majority to back him. Macron's approval reached its lowest point recently, according to an Elabe poll that put his approval rating on 14%.

The far-right leader of the far-right National Rally, which was not invited of the president's discussions with political chiefs on the end of the week, remarked that the prime minister's return, by a president out of touch at the Élysée, is a poor decision.

They would promptly introduce a challenge against a doomed coalition, whose sole purpose was avoiding a vote, he continued.

Forming Coalitions

The prime minister at least knows the pitfalls ahead as he tries to form a government, because he has already devoted 48 hours lately talking to parties that might support him.

Alone, the centrist parties lack a majority, and there are divisions within the right-leaning party who have supported the administration since he failed to secure enough seats in the previous vote.

So Lecornu will consider left-wing parties for future alliances.

In an attempt to court the left, Macron's team indicated the president was considering a delay to some aspects of his controversial pension reforms enacted last year which raised the retirement age from 62 to 64.

The offer was inadequate of what socialist figures hoped for, as they were hoping he would choose a premier from their side. The Socialist leader of the leftist party stated lacking commitments, they would withhold backing in a vote of confidence.

The Communist figure from the Communists stated following discussions that the progressive camp wanted genuine reform, and a leader from the president's centrist camp would not be endorsed by the public.

Environmental party head Marine Tondelier said she was “stunned” the president had given minimal offers to the left, adding that “all of this is going to turn out very badly”.