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The French leader has called upon his former prime minister to come back as the nation's premier only four days after he left the post, causing a stretch of intense uncertainty and crisis.

Macron declared on Friday evening, following consulting with key political groups collectively at the Élysée Palace, except for the representatives of the political extremes.

His reappointment was unexpected, as he declared on television just 48 hours prior that he was not “chasing the job” and his task was complete.

Doubts remain whether he will be able to establish a ruling coalition, but he will have to hit the ground running. Lecornu faces a time limit on Monday to present the annual budget before lawmakers.

Leadership Hurdles and Fiscal Demands

The Élysée announced the president had assigned him to build a cabinet, and those close to the president indicated he had been given complete freedom to proceed.

Lecornu, who is one of the president's key supporters, then released a long statement on an online platform in which he agreed to take on responsibly the mission assigned by the president, to strive to provide France with a budget by the end of the year and tackle the daily concerns of our compatriots.

Political divisions over how to reduce government borrowing and cut the budget deficit have led to the ouster of several leaders in the past twelve months, so his mission is immense.

Government liabilities in the past months was nearly 114 percent of gross domestic product – the number three in the euro area – and current shortfall is expected to reach 5.4 percent of the economy.

Lecornu emphasized that no one can avoid the imperative of restoring the nation's budget. In just a year and a half before the completion of his mandate, he warned that those in the cabinet would have to set aside their presidential ambitions.

Governing Without a Majority

Adding to the difficulty for Lecornu is that he will face a vote of confidence in a parliament where the president has no majority to endorse his government. The president's popularity reached its lowest point this week, according to an Elabe poll that put his approval rating on just 14%.

Jordan Bardella of the National Rally party, which was not invited of the president's discussions with political chiefs on the end of the week, remarked that Lecornu's reappointment, by a president out of touch at the presidential palace, is a “bad joke”.

His party would promptly introduce a motion of censure against a doomed coalition, whose only reason for being was avoiding a vote, he continued.

Seeking Support

Lecornu at least knows the pitfalls he faces as he tries to form a government, because he has already spent two days this week meeting with political groups that might join his government.

Alone, the moderate factions lack a majority, and there are splits within the right-leaning party who have assisted the administration since he lacked support in recent polls.

So he will seek progressive groups for future alliances.

To gain leftist support, officials hinted the president was considering a delay to portions of his controversial social security adjustments enacted last year which raised the retirement age from the early sixties.

The offer was inadequate of what progressive chiefs hoped for, as they were anticipating he would choose a prime minister from the left. The Socialist leader of the leftist party said lacking commitments, they would withhold backing in a vote of confidence.

The Communist figure from the Communists commented post-consultation that the progressive camp wanted real change, and a leader from the central bloc would not be supported by the public.

Environmental party head Marine Tondelier remarked she was surprised Macron had offered the left almost nothing to the left, adding that the situation would deteriorate.