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President Emmanuel Macron has requested Sébastien Lecornu to come back as French prime minister only four days after he left the post, causing a stretch of high drama and political turmoil.

Macron stated late on Friday, shortly after gathering key political groups collectively at the official residence, excluding the leaders of the extremist parties.

His reappointment shocked many, as he declared on television recently that he was not “chasing the job” 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 the start of the week to put next year's budget before parliament.

Leadership Hurdles and Economic Pressures

The Élysée confirmed the president had given him the duty of creating a administration, and Macron's entourage implied he had been given full authority to make decisions.

Lecornu, who is one of Macron's closest allies, then issued a comprehensive announcement on an online platform in which he accepted as an obligation the mission given to him by the president, to do everything to finalize financial plans by the December and address the everyday problems of our countrymen.

Ideological disagreements over how to reduce the country's public debt and reduce the fiscal shortfall have led to the fall of two of the past three prime ministers in the last year, so his challenge is daunting.

France's public debt in the past months was close to 114% of national income – the third highest in the eurozone – and current shortfall is estimated to amount to over five percent of the economy.

The premier emphasized that everyone must contribute the need of repairing France's public finances. Given the limited time before the completion of his mandate, he advised that prospective ministers would have to set aside their aspirations for higher office.

Leading Without Support

What makes it even harder for the prime minister is that he will face a parliamentary test in a legislative body where the president has no majority to support him. His public standing reached its lowest point recently, according to a survey that put his support level on 14%.

Jordan Bardella of the National Rally party, which was left out of Macron's talks with political chiefs on the end of the week, remarked that the decision, by a president “more than ever isolated and disconnected” at the presidential palace, is a “bad joke”.

The National Rally would immediately bring a motion of censure against a doomed coalition, whose only reason for being was avoiding a vote, the leader stated.

Building Alliances

Lecornu at least knows the pitfalls ahead as he tries to build a coalition, because he has already used time lately meeting with factions that might join his government.

On their own, the moderate factions lack a majority, and there are splits within the traditionalists who have assisted Macron's governments since he lacked support in the previous vote.

So he will look to socialist factions for possible backing.

In an attempt to court the left, the president's advisors indicated the president was thinking of postponing to part of his controversial social security adjustments passed in 2023 which increased the pension age from 62 up to 64.

The offer was inadequate of what left-wing leaders desired, as they were anticipating he would select a prime minister from their camp. The Socialist leader of the Socialists said without assurances, they would offer no support in a vote of confidence.

The Communist figure from the Communists said after meeting the president that the progressive camp wanted genuine reform, and a prime minister from the central bloc would not be endorsed by the citizens.

Environmental party head the Green figure said she was “stunned” Macron had provided few concessions to the progressives, adding that the situation would deteriorate.