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President Emmanuel Macron has asked Sébastien Lecornu to return as head of government just days after he stepped down, triggering a period of intense uncertainty and instability.

Macron declared towards the end of the week, shortly after consulting with all the main parties together at the presidential palace, excluding the representatives of the extremist parties.

The decision to reinstate him shocked many, as he said on national TV only two days ago that he was not interested in returning and his “mission is over”.

There is uncertainty whether he will be able to establish a ruling coalition, but he will have to act quickly. Lecornu faces a cut-off on Monday to present the annual budget before lawmakers.

Leadership Hurdles and Budgetary Strains

The Élysée confirmed the president had assigned him to build a cabinet, and Macron's entourage suggested he had been given complete freedom to proceed.

The prime minister, who is one of Macron's closest allies, then released a comprehensive announcement on social media in which he agreed to take on as an obligation the assignment given to him by the president, to strive to finalize financial plans by the end of the year and tackle the everyday problems of our compatriots.

Political divisions over how to reduce France's national debt and cut the budget deficit have caused the fall of two of the past three prime ministers in the last year, so his task is enormous.

Government liabilities in the past months was almost 114% of economic output (GDP) – the third highest in the euro area – and current shortfall is expected to hit 5.4 percent of the economy.

Lecornu said that no one can avoid the need of fixing France's public finances. In just a year and a half before the end of Macron's presidency, he warned that anyone joining his government would have to delay their presidential ambitions.

Leading Without Support

What makes it even harder for the prime minister is that he will face a show of support in a National Assembly where the president has lacks sufficient support to back him. His public standing reached its lowest point recently, 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 left out of Macron's talks with party leaders on the end of the week, remarked that the prime minister's return, by a president out of touch at the official residence, is a poor decision.

His party would immediately bring a motion of censure against a struggling administration, whose main motivation was dreading polls, he continued.

Forming Coalitions

The prime minister at least is aware of the challenges in his path as he tries to establish a cabinet, because he has already spent two days recently consulting factions that might participate in his administration.

Alone, the moderate factions are insufficient, and there are disagreements within the traditionalists who have supported Macron's governments since he failed to secure enough seats in elections last year.

So Lecornu will look to left-wing parties for potential support.

To gain leftist support, Macron's team suggested the president was considering a delay to part of his divisive pension reforms implemented recently which extended working life from 62 up to 64.

It was insufficient of what progressive chiefs hoped for, as they were anticipating he would choose a premier from their side. The Socialist leader of the Socialists stated lacking commitments, they would withhold backing for the premier.

The Communist figure from the Communists commented post-consultation that the left wanted substantive shifts, and a leader from the president's centrist camp would not be endorsed by the citizens.

Environmental party head Marine Tondelier expressed shock Macron had provided few concessions to the left, adding that outcomes would be negative.