🔗 Share this article

President Emmanuel Macron has asked Sébastien Lecornu to return as French prime minister a mere four days after he left the post, sparking a period of political upheaval and political turmoil.

The president stated towards the end of the week, following gathering key political groups collectively at the official residence, omitting the leaders of the political extremes.

Lecornu's return shocked many, as he declared on broadcast just 48 hours prior that he was not interested in returning and his “mission is over”.

Doubts remain whether he will be able to form a government, but he will have to start immediately. The new prime minister faces a deadline on Monday to submit financial plans before parliament.

Governing Obstacles and Fiscal Demands

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

The prime minister, who is one of the president's key supporters, then released a comprehensive announcement on X in which he consented to as an obligation the assignment entrusted to me by the president, to do everything to secure a national budget by the December and tackle the common issues of our compatriots.

Partisan conflicts over how to bring down government borrowing and cut the budget deficit have led to the resignation of several leaders in the last year, so his challenge is daunting.

The nation's debt earlier this year was nearly 114 percent of gross domestic product – the third highest in the eurozone – and this year's budget deficit is expected to reach 5.4 percent of the economy.

Lecornu emphasized that everyone must contribute the necessity of restoring France's public finances. With only 18 months before the completion of his mandate, he advised that prospective ministers would have to put on hold their political goals.

Governing Without a Majority

What makes it even harder for the prime minister is that he will face a show of support in a National Assembly where Macron has is short of votes to endorse his government. Macron's approval hit a record low this week, according to research that put his support level on 14%.

The far-right leader of the National Rally party, which was left out of Macron's talks with party leaders on Friday, remarked that Lecornu's reappointment, by a president out of touch at the presidential palace, is a misstep.

They would quickly propose a vote of no confidence against a failing government, whose main motivation was dreading polls, he continued.

Forming Coalitions

Lecornu at least is aware of the challenges in his path as he tries to build a coalition, because he has already devoted 48 hours this week consulting parties that might support him.

By themselves, the central groups cannot form a government, and there are splits within the conservative Republicans who have supported Macron's governments since he lost his majority in the previous vote.

So Lecornu will look to left-wing parties for future alliances.

As a gesture to progressives, Macron's team suggested the president was thinking of postponing to portions of his controversial social security adjustments passed in 2023 which increased the pension age from the early sixties.

It was insufficient of what progressive chiefs wanted, as they were hoping he would select a premier from the left. Olivier Faure of the Socialists said lacking commitments, they would withhold backing in a vote of confidence.

Fabien Roussel from the Communists stated following discussions that the progressive camp wanted substantive shifts, and a premier from the central bloc would not be supported by the public.

Greens leader the Green figure expressed shock the president had offered the left almost nothing to the progressives, adding that “all of this is going to turn out very badly”.