🔗 Share this article

The French leader has asked his former prime minister to come back as French prime minister a mere four days after he resigned, sparking a stretch of high drama and instability.

The president made the announcement on Friday evening, shortly after gathering all the main parties together at the official residence, omitting the leaders of the far right and far left.

His reappointment shocked many, as he declared on television just 48 hours prior that he was not “chasing the job” and his “mission is over”.

There is uncertainty whether he will be able to establish a ruling coalition, but he will have to act quickly. Lecornu faces a deadline on Monday to present the annual budget before the National Assembly.

Political Challenges and Budgetary Strains

Officials said the president had assigned him to build a cabinet, and Macron's entourage implied he had been given “carte blanche” to act.

The prime minister, who is one of a trusted associate, then released a comprehensive announcement on an online platform in which he agreed to take on as an obligation the task given to him by the president, to strive to secure a national budget by the December and address the everyday problems of our compatriots.

Partisan conflicts over how to lower the country's public debt and reduce the fiscal shortfall have resulted in the ouster of multiple premiers in the recent period, so his mission is enormous.

Government liabilities in the past months was nearly 114 percent of gross domestic product – the number three in the currency union – and this year's budget deficit is expected to hit 5.4 percent of the economy.

Lecornu said that no one can avoid the need of repairing government accounts. With only 18 months before the end of Macron's presidency, he cautioned that anyone joining his government would have to set aside their political goals.

Ruling Amid Division

Compounding the challenge for Lecornu is that he will face a parliamentary test in a legislative body where Macron has no majority to support him. Macron's approval plummeted this week, according to an Elabe poll that put his support level on 14 percent.

Jordan Bardella of the right-wing group, which was left out of the president's discussions with political chiefs on the end of the week, commented that Lecornu's reappointment, by a president increasingly isolated at the Élysée, is a misstep.

His party would immediately bring a motion of censure against a struggling administration, whose main motivation was fear of an election, the leader stated.

Seeking Support

Lecornu at least understands the obstacles in his path as he tries to build a coalition, because he has already devoted 48 hours recently talking to parties that might join his government.

By themselves, the central groups cannot form a government, and there are divisions within the right-leaning party who have supported Macron's governments since he failed to secure enough seats in the previous vote.

So Lecornu will seek progressive groups for possible backing.

To gain leftist support, the president's advisors indicated the president was considering a delay to some aspects of his divisive pension reforms implemented recently which extended working life from 62 up to 64.

It was insufficient of what progressive chiefs wanted, as they were expecting he would select a premier from their side. Olivier Faure of the leftist party stated lacking commitments, they would withhold backing for the premier.

Fabien Roussel from the left-wing party commented post-consultation that the progressive camp wanted real change, and a premier from the president's centrist camp would not be supported by the public.

Environmental party head the Green figure remarked she was surprised the president had given minimal offers to the left, adding that outcomes would be negative.