🔗 Share this article

President Emmanuel Macron has asked his former prime minister to come back as French prime minister just days after he resigned, triggering a period of intense uncertainty and political turmoil.

The president stated late on Friday, shortly after meeting leading factions in one place at the Élysée Palace, omitting the figures of the political extremes.

The decision to reinstate him shocked many, as he stated on television just 48 hours prior that he was not “chasing the job” and his task was complete.

There is uncertainty whether he will be able to establish a ruling coalition, but he will have to hit the ground running. Lecornu faces a deadline on the start of the week to submit financial plans before lawmakers.

Governing Obstacles and Budgetary Strains

Officials announced the president had given him the duty of creating a administration, and Macron's entourage indicated he had been given complete freedom to proceed.

The prime minister, who is one of the president's key supporters, then released a detailed message on social media in which he agreed to take on responsibly the mission given to him by the president, to strive to secure a national budget by the December and address the daily concerns of our countrymen.

Partisan conflicts over how to bring down government borrowing and balance the books have caused the fall of several leaders in the past twelve months, so his challenge is daunting.

Government liabilities recently was nearly 114 percent of national income – the third largest in the currency union – and this year's budget deficit is expected to amount to 5.4 percent of the economy.

The premier emphasized that “no-one will be able to shirk” the need of restoring France's public finances. With only 18 months before the end of Macron's presidency, he advised that anyone joining his government would have to delay their political goals.

Governing Without a Majority

Compounding the challenge 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 reached its lowest point this week, according to a survey that put his approval rating on just 14%.

Jordan Bardella of the right-wing group, which was excluded of the president's discussions with party leaders on Friday, commented that Lecornu's reappointment, by a president increasingly isolated at the official residence, is a “bad joke”.

The National Rally would quickly propose a vote of no confidence against a failing government, whose sole purpose was fear of an election, he continued.

Forming Coalitions

Lecornu at least understands the obstacles in his path as he tries to establish a cabinet, because he has already devoted 48 hours lately consulting factions that might join his government.

By themselves, the centrist parties lack a majority, and there are disagreements within the conservative Republicans who have helped prop up Macron's governments since he lost his majority in recent polls.

So Lecornu will consider socialist factions for possible backing.

As a gesture to progressives, the president's advisors hinted the president was thinking of postponing to some aspects of his controversial retirement changes enacted last year which raised the retirement age from 62 to 64.

That fell short of what left-wing leaders wanted, as they were expecting he would select a premier from their side. Olivier Faure of the Socialists stated lacking commitments, they would withhold backing for the premier.

The Communist figure from the Communists said after meeting the president that the left wanted substantive shifts, and a prime minister from the moderate faction would not be supported by the French people.

Greens leader the Green figure expressed shock Macron had provided few concessions to the left, adding that the situation would deteriorate.