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The French leader has asked his former prime minister to resume duties as French prime minister just days after he stepped down, sparking a period of high drama and political turmoil.

Macron made the announcement on Friday evening, following meeting leading factions together at the official residence, omitting the leaders of the extremist parties.

His reappointment came as a surprise, as he said on national TV just 48 hours prior that he was not interested in returning and his task was complete.

It is not even certain whether he will be able to form a government, but he will have to hit the ground running. The new prime minister faces a cut-off on Monday to put next year's budget before parliament.

Leadership Hurdles and Economic Pressures

The presidency announced the president had “tasked [Lecornu] with forming a government”, and Macron's entourage implied he had been given full authority to proceed.

The prime minister, who is one of a trusted associate, then published a comprehensive announcement on social media in which he accepted as an obligation the mission entrusted to me by the president, to strive to finalize financial plans by the December and tackle the daily concerns of our fellow citizens.

Ideological disagreements over how to lower government borrowing and reduce the fiscal shortfall have led to the ouster of multiple premiers in the recent period, so his task is enormous.

Government liabilities in the past months was nearly 114 percent of gross domestic product – the third largest in the euro area – and this year's budget deficit is estimated to hit 5.4% of GDP.

Lecornu said that no one can avoid the need of repairing the nation's budget. Given the limited time before the conclusion of his term, he warned that those in the cabinet would have to put on hold their presidential ambitions.

Leading Without Support

What makes it even harder for the prime minister is that he will face a parliamentary test in a National Assembly where the president has is short of votes to back him. The president's popularity hit a record low this week, according to research that put his public backing on 14%.

Jordan Bardella of the far-right National Rally, which was excluded of Macron's talks with political chiefs on Friday, said that Lecornu's reappointment, by a president increasingly isolated at the presidential palace, is a “bad joke”.

They would promptly introduce a vote of no confidence against a failing government, whose main motivation was avoiding a vote, he continued.

Forming Coalitions

The prime minister at least is aware of the challenges he faces as he tries to form a government, because he has already used time lately meeting with political groups that might join his government.

Alone, the centrist parties cannot form a government, and there are divisions within the traditionalists who have helped prop up Macron's governments since he failed to secure enough seats in the previous vote.

So Lecornu will consider left-wing parties for future alliances.

As a gesture to progressives, officials suggested the president was evaluating a pause to portions of his divisive retirement changes enacted last year which extended working life from 62 to 64.

That fell short of what left-wing leaders desired, as they were expecting he would select a leader from their camp. The Socialist leader of the leftist party commented lacking commitments, they would withhold backing for the premier.

Fabien Roussel from the Communists said after meeting the president that the left wanted substantive shifts, and a premier from the president's centrist camp would not be endorsed by the public.

Environmental party head Marine Tondelier said she was “stunned” the president had given minimal offers to the progressives, adding that the situation would deteriorate.