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President Emmanuel Macron has requested Sébastien Lecornu to come back as the nation's premier only four days after he left the post, triggering a period of high drama and political turmoil.

The president stated towards the end of the week, following consulting with leading factions collectively at the official residence, except for the figures of the political extremes.

Lecornu's return shocked many, as he stated on television just 48 hours prior that he was not seeking the position and his task was complete.

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 parliament.

Leadership Hurdles and Fiscal Demands

The Élysée announced the president had “tasked [Lecornu] with forming a government”, and Macron's entourage indicated he had been given “carte blanche” to make decisions.

The prime minister, who is one of a trusted associate, then issued a long statement on an online platform in which he agreed to take on as an obligation the mission assigned by the president, to make every effort to provide France with a budget by the year's conclusion and respond to the everyday problems of our fellow citizens.

Partisan conflicts over how to lower government borrowing and balance the books have resulted in the resignation of multiple premiers in the last year, so his mission is immense.

France's public debt in the past months was nearly 114 percent of economic output (GDP) – the third largest in the eurozone – and current shortfall is estimated to amount to 5.4 percent of GDP.

Lecornu said that everyone must contribute the imperative of fixing France's public finances. In just a year and a half before the conclusion of his term, he cautioned that those in the cabinet would have to put on hold their political goals.

Leading Without Support

What makes it even harder for the prime minister is that he will face a parliamentary test in a legislative body where the president has lacks sufficient support to back him. The president's popularity reached its lowest point this week, according to an Elabe poll that put his public backing on 14%.

The far-right leader of the far-right National Rally, which was excluded of consultations with faction heads on the end of the week, commented that Lecornu's reappointment, by a president “more than ever isolated and disconnected” at the official residence, is a poor decision.

His party would immediately bring a challenge against a struggling administration, whose only reason for being was avoiding a vote, the leader stated.

Seeking Support

Lecornu at least knows the pitfalls in his path as he tries to form a government, because he has already spent two days this week meeting with parties that might participate in his administration.

On their own, the central groups cannot form a government, and there are splits within the right-leaning party who have supported Macron's governments since he lacked support in elections last year.

So he will seek socialist factions for possible backing.

To gain leftist support, officials indicated the president was considering a delay to some aspects of his highly contentious pension reforms enacted last year which increased the pension age from 62 up to 64.

It was insufficient of what progressive chiefs hoped for, as they were hoping he would appoint a prime minister from the left. The Socialist leader of the leftist party stated without assurances, they would offer no support to back the prime minister.

Fabien Roussel from the left-wing party said after meeting the president that the progressive camp wanted genuine reform, and a premier from the central bloc would not be supported by the public.

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