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The French leader has asked Sébastien Lecornu to return as the nation's premier just days after he resigned, triggering a period of high drama and political turmoil.

The president made the announcement towards the end of the week, shortly after gathering leading factions together at the official residence, except for the leaders of the extremist parties.

The decision to reinstate him was unexpected, as he stated on national TV only two days ago that he was not seeking the position and his role had concluded.

It is not even certain whether he will be able to form a government, but he will have to hit the ground running. The new prime minister faces a deadline on Monday to submit financial plans before the National Assembly.

Governing Obstacles and Economic Pressures

The presidency said the president had given him the duty of creating a administration, and those close to the president implied he had been given complete freedom to act.

Lecornu, who is one of the president's key supporters, then published a comprehensive announcement on an online platform in which he accepted responsibly the assignment entrusted to me by the president, to strive to finalize financial plans by the year's conclusion and tackle the everyday problems of our compatriots.

Political divisions over how to reduce France's national debt and balance the books have resulted in the fall of two of the past three prime ministers in the recent period, so his challenge is enormous.

The nation's debt in the past months was close to 114% of economic output (GDP) – the third largest in the euro area – and this year's budget deficit is estimated to hit 5.4 percent of the economy.

Lecornu emphasized that no one can avoid the need of fixing government accounts. In just a year and a half before the completion of his mandate, he warned that prospective ministers would have to put on hold their aspirations for higher office.

Ruling Amid Division

Adding to the difficulty for Lecornu is that he will face a parliamentary test in a legislative body where Macron has is short of votes to support him. Macron's approval hit a record low this week, according to a survey that put his support level on 14 percent.

The far-right leader of the right-wing group, which was excluded of Macron's talks with faction heads on Friday, commented that Lecornu's reappointment, by a president increasingly isolated at the Élysée, is a poor decision.

They would promptly introduce a motion of censure against a failing government, whose sole purpose was avoiding a vote, he continued.

Seeking Support

Lecornu at least knows the pitfalls in his path as he tries to establish a cabinet, because he has already used time lately talking to parties that might participate in his administration.

By themselves, the central groups are insufficient, and there are splits within the conservative Republicans who have assisted the ruling coalition since he failed to secure enough seats in elections last year.

So Lecornu will look to progressive groups for possible backing.

As a gesture to progressives, Macron's team suggested the president was evaluating a pause to some aspects of his divisive pension reforms passed in 2023 which extended working life from the early sixties.

The offer was inadequate of what left-wing leaders wanted, as they were anticipating he would choose a leader from their camp. The Socialist leader of the leftist party commented “since we've not been given any guarantees, we won't give any guarantee” for the premier.

The Communist figure from the left-wing party said after meeting the president that the progressive camp wanted substantive shifts, and a prime minister from the central bloc would not be accepted by the citizens.

Environmental party head the Green figure remarked she was surprised Macron had offered the left almost nothing to the progressives, adding that “all of this is going to turn out very badly”.