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President Emmanuel Macron has asked Sébastien Lecornu to resume duties as the nation's premier only four days after he stepped down, causing a period of intense uncertainty and crisis.

The president made the announcement towards the end of the week, shortly after consulting with leading factions together at the presidential palace, except for the figures of the extremist parties.

The decision to reinstate him came as a surprise, as he stated on television only two days ago that he was not seeking the position and his task was complete.

Doubts remain whether he will be able to form a government, but he will have to hit the ground running. The new prime minister faces a time limit on Monday to present the annual budget before parliament.

Governing Obstacles and Economic Pressures

Officials confirmed the president had assigned him to build a cabinet, and Macron's entourage implied he had been given “carte blanche” to act.

Lecornu, who is one of Macron's closest allies, then issued a long statement on social media in which he consented to responsibly the mission given to him by the president, to do everything to provide France with a budget by the end of the year and respond to the daily concerns of our compatriots.

Partisan conflicts over how to reduce the country's public debt and cut the budget deficit have caused the fall of multiple premiers in the recent period, so his challenge is enormous.

Government liabilities earlier this year was close to 114% of national income – the number three in the currency union – and this year's budget deficit is expected to amount to 5.4 percent of the economy.

Lecornu stated that no one can avoid the necessity of restoring France's public finances. Given the limited time before the end of Macron's presidency, he cautioned that prospective ministers would have to set aside their aspirations for higher office.

Governing Without a Majority

Compounding the challenge for the prime minister is that he will face a vote of confidence in a legislative body where the president has lacks sufficient support to support him. Macron's approval hit a record low recently, according to a survey that put his public backing on 14%.

The far-right leader of the right-wing group, which was left out of the president's discussions with faction heads on Friday, commented that the decision, by a president “more than ever isolated and disconnected” at the presidential palace, is a poor decision.

They would promptly introduce a motion of censure against a doomed coalition, whose main motivation was fear of an election, Bardella added.

Forming Coalitions

Lecornu at least understands the obstacles in his path as he tries to build a coalition, because he has already spent two days recently talking to factions that might support him.

On their own, the centrist parties cannot form a government, and there are divisions within the traditionalists who have supported the administration since he lacked support in elections last year.

So Lecornu will consider socialist factions for potential support.

To gain leftist support, the president's advisors suggested the president was thinking of postponing to portions of his divisive retirement changes implemented recently 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 prime minister from the left. The Socialist leader of the Socialists commented “since we've not been given any guarantees, we won't give any guarantee” for the premier.

Fabien Roussel from the Communists commented post-consultation that the progressive camp wanted genuine reform, and a leader from the central bloc would not be accepted by the public.

Greens leader Marine Tondelier remarked she was surprised Macron had given minimal offers to the progressives, adding that outcomes would be negative.