🔗 Share this article Macron Brings Back Lecornu as France's Prime Minister Following A Period of Instability The politician served for just under a month before his surprise resignation recently The French leader has requested his former prime minister to come back as head of government a mere four days after he left the post, sparking a stretch of intense uncertainty and crisis. Macron declared on Friday evening, hours after consulting with key political groups in one place at the presidential palace, excluding the figures of the far right and far left. The decision to reinstate him shocked many, as he declared on national TV recently that he was not seeking the position and his task was complete. It is not even certain whether he will be able to form a government, but he will have to act quickly. He faces a time limit on Monday to present the annual budget before the National Assembly. Governing Obstacles and Economic Pressures The Élysée announced the president had assigned him to build a cabinet, and Macron's entourage indicated he had been given “carte blanche” to act. Lecornu, who is one of a trusted associate, then released a detailed message on an online platform in which he accepted responsibly the mission assigned by the president, to strive to provide France with a budget by the end of the year and tackle the common issues of our compatriots. Political divisions over how to lower France's national debt and cut the budget deficit have caused the fall of two of the past three prime ministers in the last year, so his mission is enormous. The nation's debt earlier this year was close to 114% of gross domestic product – the third highest in the euro area – and current shortfall is estimated to hit 5.4 percent of economic output. Lecornu said that everyone must contribute the necessity of restoring France's public finances. In just a year and a half before the end of Macron's presidency, he warned that anyone joining his government would have to set aside their political goals. Governing Without a Majority Adding to the difficulty for the prime minister is that he will face a show of support in a legislative body where Macron has is short of votes to back him. The president's popularity hit a record low this week, according to a survey that put his support level on just 14%. The far-right leader of the far-right National Rally, which was excluded of consultations with political chiefs on Friday, remarked that the decision, by a president increasingly isolated at the presidential palace, is a poor decision. His party would quickly propose a vote of no confidence against a struggling administration, whose main motivation was fear of an election, he continued. Forming Coalitions The prime minister at least knows the pitfalls he faces as he tries to establish a cabinet, because he has already devoted 48 hours this week meeting with factions that might support him. On their own, the central groups lack a majority, and there are divisions within the conservative Republicans who have supported the administration since he lost his majority in elections last year. So he will seek left-wing parties for possible backing. In an attempt to court the left, the president's advisors suggested the president was evaluating a pause to part of his highly contentious pension reforms implemented recently which extended working life from 62 up to 64. That fell short of what socialist figures hoped for, as they were expecting he would choose a leader from the left. Olivier Faure of the Socialists commented “since we've not been given any guarantees, we won't give any guarantee” to back the prime minister. The Communist figure from the Communists commented post-consultation that the left wanted substantive shifts, and a leader from the central bloc would not be endorsed by the citizens. Environmental party head the Green figure said she was “stunned” the president had offered the left almost nothing to the progressives, adding that the situation would deteriorate.