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The French leader has asked Sébastien Lecornu to return as head of government only four days after he resigned, causing a period of high drama and political turmoil.

Macron made the announcement late on Friday, hours after consulting with all the main parties in one place at the official residence, omitting the representatives of the political extremes.

Lecornu's return was unexpected, as he said on national TV only two days ago that he was not “chasing the job” and his role had concluded.

It is not even certain whether he will be able to establish a ruling coalition, but he will have to act quickly. Lecornu faces a deadline on the start of the week to submit financial plans before lawmakers.

Leadership Hurdles and Budgetary Strains

Officials said the president had assigned him to build a cabinet, and his advisors suggested he had been given “carte blanche” to make decisions.

The prime minister, who is one of a trusted associate, then published a comprehensive announcement on an online platform in which he consented to “out of duty” the task given to him by the president, to strive to secure a national budget by the year's conclusion and respond to the everyday problems of our compatriots.

Political divisions over how to bring down France's national debt and reduce the fiscal shortfall have led to the fall of two of the past three prime ministers in the recent period, so his challenge is immense.

France's public debt in the past months was almost 114% of national income – the third highest in the euro area – and the annual fiscal gap is estimated to hit 5.4 percent of GDP.

The premier emphasized that no one can avoid the necessity of repairing government accounts. In just a year and a half before the completion of his mandate, he advised that prospective ministers would have to put on hold their political goals.

Ruling Amid Division

Adding to the difficulty for the prime minister is that he will face a parliamentary test in a parliament where Macron has no majority to endorse his government. The president's popularity reached its lowest point recently, according to a survey that put his support level on 14%.

The far-right leader of the right-wing group, which was left out of the president's discussions with faction heads on the end of the week, remarked that the prime minister's return, by a president increasingly isolated at the Élysée, is a poor decision.

They would quickly propose a motion of censure against a failing government, whose only reason for being was dreading polls, he continued.

Building Alliances

The prime minister at least understands the obstacles in his path as he tries to build a coalition, because he has already used time lately consulting parties that might participate in his administration.

By themselves, the central groups cannot form a government, and there are disagreements within the traditionalists who have assisted Macron's governments since he lacked support in the previous vote.

So Lecornu will look to socialist factions for future alliances.

In an attempt to court the left, the president's advisors suggested the president was evaluating a pause to portions of his divisive pension reforms implemented recently which raised the retirement age from the early sixties.

The offer was inadequate of what socialist figures wanted, as they were anticipating he would appoint a premier from their camp. Olivier Faure of the leftist party said without assurances, they would offer no support in a vote of confidence.

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

Environmental party head the Green figure said she was “stunned” Macron had offered the left almost nothing to the progressives, adding that the situation would deteriorate.