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President Emmanuel Macron has asked his former prime minister to come back as head of government only four days after he left the post, sparking a week of intense uncertainty and instability.

Macron made the announcement late on Friday, following consulting with key political groups in one place at the official residence, except for the leaders of the political extremes.

The decision to reinstate him came as a surprise, as he declared on television 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 assemble a cabinet, but he will have to act quickly. Lecornu faces a time limit on Monday to put next year's budget before the National Assembly.

Governing Obstacles and Economic Pressures

The Élysée said the president had given him the duty of creating a administration, and Macron's entourage suggested he had been given complete freedom to proceed.

Lecornu, who is one of the president's key supporters, then released a long statement on an online platform in which he consented to responsibly the mission entrusted to me by the president, to strive to provide France with a budget by the year's conclusion and address the common issues of our compatriots.

Political divisions over how to reduce the country's public debt and cut the budget deficit have resulted in the resignation of multiple premiers in the last year, so his challenge is immense.

France's public debt earlier this year was close to 114% of national income – the number three in the eurozone – and the annual fiscal gap is expected to hit over five percent of the economy.

The premier emphasized that “no-one will be able to shirk” the imperative of restoring the nation's budget. With only 18 months before the conclusion of his term, he warned that those in the cabinet would have to delay their political goals.

Ruling Amid Division

Adding to the difficulty for Lecornu is that he will face a vote of confidence in a legislative body where Macron has lacks sufficient support to support him. The president's popularity hit a record low in the latest survey, according to an Elabe poll that put his support level on 14 percent.

The far-right leader of the far-right National Rally, which was excluded of consultations with faction heads on the end of the week, remarked that Lecornu's reappointment, by a president out of touch at the official residence, is a misstep.

His party would immediately bring a motion of censure against a struggling administration, whose sole purpose was avoiding a vote, he continued.

Building Alliances

The prime minister at least understands the obstacles ahead as he tries to build a coalition, because he has already devoted 48 hours lately consulting factions that might join his government.

Alone, the centrist parties cannot form a government, and there are splits within the traditionalists who have assisted the administration since he lost his majority in the previous vote.

So he will seek socialist factions for future alliances.

In an attempt to court the left, Macron's team indicated the president was considering a delay to part of his controversial social security adjustments enacted last year which raised the retirement age from the early sixties.

That fell short of what progressive chiefs hoped for, as they were hoping he would select a prime minister from their camp. Olivier Faure of the leftist party commented without assurances, they would offer no support to back the prime minister.

The Communist figure from the Communists stated following discussions that the left wanted genuine reform, and a premier from the central bloc would not be supported by the public.

Greens leader Marine Tondelier remarked she was surprised the president had provided few concessions to the left, adding that “all of this is going to turn out very badly”.