🔗 Share this article

President Emmanuel Macron has called upon his former prime minister to return as the nation's premier only four days after he resigned, causing a period of high drama and instability.

Macron declared on Friday evening, shortly after meeting all the main parties together at the Élysée Palace, excluding the representatives of the far right and far left.

His reappointment came as a surprise, as he said on television just 48 hours prior that he was not “chasing the job” and his task was complete.

Doubts remain whether he will be able to assemble a cabinet, but he will have to act quickly. Lecornu faces a deadline on Monday to present the annual budget before lawmakers.

Political Challenges and Economic Pressures

Officials said the president had assigned him to build a cabinet, and those close to the president indicated he had been given “carte blanche” to proceed.

The prime minister, who is one of the president's key supporters, then published a detailed message on social media in which he consented to as an obligation the task entrusted to me by the president, to make every effort to secure a national budget by the end of the year and tackle the daily concerns of our countrymen.

Ideological disagreements over how to lower the country's public debt and reduce the fiscal shortfall have caused the fall of two of the past three prime ministers in the past twelve months, so his challenge is immense.

Government liabilities in the past months was almost 114% of national income – the number three in the currency union – and this year's budget deficit is expected to amount to 5.4% of the economy.

The premier said that everyone must contribute the necessity of repairing government accounts. With only 18 months before the conclusion of his term, he warned that anyone joining his government would have to put on hold their political goals.

Governing Without a Majority

Compounding the challenge for the prime minister is that he will face a vote of confidence in a parliament where the president has no majority to support him. Macron's approval plummeted in the latest survey, according to an Elabe poll that put his support level on 14%.

Jordan Bardella of the National Rally party, which was excluded of consultations with faction heads on the end of the week, remarked that the prime minister's return, by a president “more than ever isolated and disconnected” at the Élysée, is a misstep.

They would quickly propose a challenge against a doomed coalition, whose main motivation was fear of an election, Bardella added.

Seeking Support

The prime minister at least is aware of the challenges he faces as he tries to build a coalition, because he has already used time recently talking to parties that might join his government.

On their own, the moderate factions cannot form a government, and there are disagreements within the conservative Republicans who have helped prop up the administration since he failed to secure enough seats in elections last year.

So Lecornu will consider progressive groups for possible backing.

As a gesture to progressives, officials suggested the president was thinking of postponing to some aspects of his controversial retirement changes 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 appoint a prime minister from their side. The Socialist leader of the Socialists stated without assurances, they would offer no support to back the prime minister.

The Communist figure from the left-wing party commented post-consultation that the left wanted substantive shifts, and a premier from the moderate faction would not be endorsed by the citizens.

Greens leader the Green figure said she was “stunned” Macron had offered the left almost nothing to the left, adding that “all of this is going to turn out very badly”.