🔗 Share this article

The French leader has asked his former prime minister to come back as head of government just days after he resigned, causing a week of political upheaval and political turmoil.

Macron made the announcement on Friday evening, following consulting with key political groups together at the presidential palace, omitting the leaders of the extremist parties.

The decision to reinstate him shocked many, as he stated on national TV recently that he was not seeking the position and his role had concluded.

It is not even certain whether he will be able to establish a ruling coalition, but he will have to act quickly. He faces a cut-off on Monday to put next year's budget before the National Assembly.

Leadership Hurdles and Fiscal Demands

Officials said the president had given him the duty of creating a administration, and his advisors suggested he had been given “carte blanche” to make decisions.

Lecornu, who is one of the president's key supporters, then issued a comprehensive announcement on X in which he accepted as an obligation the assignment assigned by the president, to strive to finalize financial plans by the December and address the everyday problems of our countrymen.

Political divisions over how to lower the country's public debt and cut the budget deficit have resulted in the fall of multiple premiers in the past twelve months, so his challenge is immense.

France's public debt recently was almost 114% of economic output (GDP) – the number three in the euro area – and this year's budget deficit is estimated to reach 5.4 percent of the economy.

The premier emphasized that “no-one will be able to shirk” the necessity of fixing the nation's budget. In just a year and a half before the end of Macron's presidency, he cautioned that prospective ministers would have to put on hold their political goals.

Ruling Amid Division

What makes it even harder for the prime minister is that he will face a show of support in a parliament where Macron has no majority to endorse his government. His public standing hit a record low in the latest survey, according to research that put his support level on just 14%.

The far-right leader of the far-right National Rally, which was not invited of the president's discussions with party leaders on the end of the week, commented that the decision, by a president “more than ever isolated and disconnected” at the presidential palace, is a misstep.

His party would immediately bring a vote of no confidence against a doomed coalition, whose only reason for being was dreading polls, he continued.

Forming Coalitions

The prime minister at least knows the pitfalls ahead as he tries to establish a cabinet, because he has already devoted 48 hours this week consulting parties that might participate in his administration.

On their own, the moderate factions lack a majority, and there are splits within the conservative Republicans who have assisted the administration since he lost his majority in the previous vote.

So Lecornu will seek progressive groups for possible backing.

As a gesture to progressives, the president's advisors indicated the president was thinking of postponing to some aspects of his divisive pension reforms implemented recently which raised the retirement age from 62 up to 64.

It was insufficient of what socialist figures desired, as they were anticipating he would choose a premier from the left. The Socialist leader of the leftist party commented lacking commitments, they would withhold backing to back the prime minister.

Fabien Roussel from the Communists said after meeting the president that the left wanted real change, and a premier from the moderate faction would not be endorsed by the French people.

Environmental party head the Green figure remarked she was surprised the president had provided few concessions to the left, adding that the situation would deteriorate.