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President Emmanuel Macron has called upon Sébastien Lecornu to return as French prime minister just days after he stepped down, triggering a stretch of high drama and crisis.

The president declared late on Friday, hours after gathering all the main parties together at the Élysée Palace, omitting the leaders of the political extremes.

Lecornu's return was unexpected, as he declared on broadcast just 48 hours prior that he was not interested in returning and his task was complete.

Doubts remain whether he will be able to assemble a cabinet, but he will have to start immediately. The new prime minister faces a cut-off on the start of the week to put next year's budget before the National Assembly.

Political Challenges and Budgetary Strains

The presidency confirmed the president had assigned him to build a cabinet, and Macron's entourage indicated he had been given full authority to act.

The prime minister, who is one of a trusted associate, then issued a long statement on an online platform in which he accepted “out of duty” the mission entrusted to me by the president, to make every effort to provide France with a budget by the December and respond to the everyday problems of our compatriots.

Partisan conflicts over how to reduce government borrowing and cut the budget deficit have resulted in the fall of several leaders in the past twelve months, so his mission is enormous.

Government liabilities earlier this year was almost 114% of national income – the third largest in the eurozone – and current shortfall is projected to amount to 5.4 percent of economic output.

Lecornu said that “no-one will be able to shirk” the imperative of restoring the nation's budget. In just a year and a half before the conclusion of his term, he cautioned that prospective ministers would have to set aside their political goals.

Governing Without a Majority

What makes it even harder for Lecornu is that he will face a vote of confidence in a National Assembly where Macron 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 public backing on 14 percent.

Jordan Bardella of the far-right National Rally, which was excluded of Macron's talks with faction heads on the end of the week, commented that Lecornu's reappointment, by a president out of touch at the Élysée, is a “bad joke”.

The National Rally would immediately bring a vote of no confidence against a doomed coalition, whose sole purpose was avoiding a vote, the leader stated.

Building Alliances

Lecornu at least is aware of the challenges ahead as he tries to establish a cabinet, because he has already used time lately talking to parties that might join his government.

On their own, the moderate factions are insufficient, and there are splits within the conservative Republicans who have helped prop up Macron's governments since he lacked support in elections last year.

So Lecornu will seek progressive groups for possible backing.

In an attempt to court the left, the president's advisors hinted the president was evaluating a pause to some aspects of his highly contentious social security adjustments enacted last year which extended working life from 62 up to 64.

It was insufficient of what socialist figures hoped for, as they were expecting he would appoint a leader from their camp. Olivier Faure of the leftist party stated without assurances, they would offer no support for the premier.

Fabien Roussel from the left-wing party commented post-consultation that the left wanted substantive shifts, and a prime minister from the president's centrist camp would not be accepted by the citizens.

Greens leader the Green figure remarked she was surprised the president had given minimal offers to the left, adding that the situation would deteriorate.