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The French leader has asked Sébastien Lecornu to come back as head of government only four days after he left the post, causing a period of high drama and political turmoil.

Macron made the announcement on Friday evening, hours after meeting leading factions together at the presidential palace, excluding the figures of the political extremes.

Lecornu's return came as a surprise, as he stated on national TV just 48 hours prior that he was not seeking the position and his task was complete.

There is uncertainty whether he will be able to establish a ruling coalition, but he will have to act quickly. He faces a cut-off on Monday to submit financial plans before parliament.

Political Challenges and Economic Pressures

The presidency said the president had “tasked [Lecornu] with forming a government”, and those close to the president indicated he had been given full authority to proceed.

Lecornu, who is one of a trusted associate, then released a comprehensive announcement on an online platform in which he accepted responsibly the mission given to him by the president, to do everything to provide France with a budget by the year's conclusion and tackle the daily concerns of our fellow citizens.

Political divisions over how to bring down the country's public debt and reduce the fiscal shortfall have resulted in the ouster of multiple premiers in the last year, so his task is immense.

Government liabilities in the past months was close to 114% of national income – the third highest in the currency union – and the annual fiscal gap is estimated to amount to 5.4 percent of GDP.

The premier stated that everyone must contribute the necessity of fixing government accounts. With only 18 months before the end of Macron's presidency, he cautioned that those in the cabinet would have to put on hold their political goals.

Leading Without Support

Compounding the challenge for the prime minister is that he will face a show of support in a parliament where the president has is short of votes to endorse his government. Macron's approval hit a record low this week, according to an Elabe poll that put his approval rating on 14 percent.

Jordan Bardella of the far-right National Rally, which was left out of consultations with political chiefs on the end of the week, commented that Lecornu's reappointment, by a president “more than ever isolated and disconnected” at the official residence, is a “bad joke”.

His party would quickly propose a vote of no confidence against a failing government, whose only reason for being was fear of an election, he continued.

Forming Coalitions

Lecornu at least understands the obstacles in his path as he tries to form a government, because he has already spent two days lately talking to political groups that might participate in his administration.

By themselves, the moderate factions lack a majority, and there are disagreements within the right-leaning party who have helped prop up the ruling coalition since he lacked support in elections last year.

So Lecornu will look to socialist factions for possible backing.

To gain leftist support, Macron's team hinted the president was thinking of postponing to part of his controversial retirement changes implemented recently which extended working life from the early sixties.

It was insufficient of what socialist figures desired, as they were expecting he would select a leader from their camp. Olivier Faure of the Socialists stated “since we've not been given any guarantees, we won't give any guarantee” for the premier.

The Communist figure from the Communists said after meeting the president that the progressive camp wanted genuine reform, and a leader from the moderate faction would not be accepted by the French people.

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