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President Emmanuel Macron has called upon his former prime minister to come back as French prime minister only four days after he resigned, causing a period of intense uncertainty and instability.

The president made the announcement on Friday evening, hours after gathering all the main parties together at the presidential palace, except for the representatives of the political extremes.

His reappointment shocked many, as he stated on broadcast 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 form a government, but he will have to hit the ground running. He faces a time limit on Monday to present the annual budget before the National Assembly.

Political Challenges and Fiscal Demands

The presidency announced the president had given him the duty of creating a administration, and those close to the president indicated he had been given full authority to act.

Lecornu, who is one of Macron's closest allies, then released a detailed message on social media in which he consented to “out of duty” the task given to him by the president, to do everything to finalize financial plans by the December and respond to the common issues of our compatriots.

Ideological disagreements over how to bring down government borrowing and reduce the fiscal shortfall have led to the fall of two of the past three prime ministers in the last year, so his challenge is enormous.

Government liabilities recently was nearly 114 percent of gross domestic product – the third highest in the eurozone – and this year's budget deficit is projected to amount to 5.4 percent of GDP.

Lecornu emphasized that everyone must contribute the imperative of fixing France's public finances. Given the limited time before the completion of his mandate, he cautioned that prospective ministers would have to delay their aspirations for higher office.

Leading Without Support

What makes it even harder for Lecornu is that he will face a vote of confidence in a National Assembly where the president has lacks sufficient support to endorse his government. His public standing plummeted 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 faction heads on Friday, said that the prime minister's return, by a president increasingly isolated at the presidential palace, is a “bad joke”.

The National Rally would immediately bring a challenge against a failing government, whose main motivation was dreading polls, 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 recently talking to parties that might participate in his administration.

By themselves, the central groups are insufficient, and there are divisions within the traditionalists who have assisted the administration since he lost his majority in the previous vote.

So Lecornu will seek progressive groups for potential support.

To gain leftist support, officials suggested the president was considering a delay to part of his controversial social security adjustments implemented recently which extended working life from the early sixties.

It was insufficient of what left-wing leaders desired, as they were anticipating he would choose a prime minister from their camp. Olivier Faure of the leftist party said without assurances, they would offer no support to back the prime minister.

Fabien Roussel from the Communists stated following discussions that the left wanted substantive shifts, and a prime minister from the central bloc would not be accepted by the citizens.

Greens leader the Green figure expressed shock the president had provided few concessions to the left, adding that “all of this is going to turn out very badly”.