🔗 Share this article

The French leader has called upon his former prime minister to resume duties as French prime minister only four days after he left the post, causing a week of high drama and instability.

The president made the announcement on Friday evening, shortly after gathering all the main parties in one place at the Élysée Palace, omitting the leaders of the extremist parties.

His reappointment shocked many, as he said on broadcast recently that he was not interested in returning and his “mission is over”.

Doubts remain whether he will be able to assemble a cabinet, but he will have to hit the ground running. He faces a deadline on Monday to submit financial plans before parliament.

Leadership Hurdles and Budgetary Strains

The presidency announced the president had given him the duty of creating a administration, and Macron's entourage indicated he had been given “carte blanche” to make decisions.

The prime minister, who is one of a trusted associate, then issued a comprehensive announcement on X in which he accepted “out of duty” the mission given to him by the president, to make every effort to finalize financial plans by the year's conclusion and address the everyday problems of our compatriots.

Political divisions over how to bring down the country's public debt and reduce the fiscal shortfall have caused the resignation of several leaders in the past twelve months, so his task is enormous.

France's public debt recently was almost 114% of economic output (GDP) – the third highest in the eurozone – and this year's budget deficit is estimated to reach over five percent of the economy.

The premier emphasized that everyone must contribute the need of restoring France's public finances. With only 18 months before the conclusion of his term, he advised that prospective ministers would have to set aside their political goals.

Governing Without a Majority

What makes it even harder for the prime minister is that he will face a parliamentary test in a National Assembly where the president has no majority to endorse his government. The president's popularity hit a record low recently, according to an Elabe poll that put his support level on 14%.

The far-right leader of the far-right National Rally, which was not invited of Macron's talks with party leaders on Friday, remarked that the decision, by a president “more than ever isolated and disconnected” at the presidential palace, is a “bad joke”.

They would immediately bring a motion of censure against a struggling administration, whose main motivation was avoiding a vote, the leader stated.

Forming Coalitions

Lecornu at least knows the pitfalls ahead as he tries to establish a cabinet, because he has already spent two days lately consulting political groups that might join his government.

On their own, the centrist parties cannot form a government, and there are disagreements within the right-leaning party who have assisted the administration since he lacked support in recent polls.

So he will consider socialist factions for future alliances.

As a gesture to progressives, the president's advisors suggested the president was thinking of postponing to portions of his controversial retirement changes enacted last year which extended working life from 62 to 64.

The offer was inadequate of what progressive chiefs hoped for, as they were hoping he would choose a prime minister from the left. Olivier Faure of the leftist party commented without assurances, they would offer no support in a vote of confidence.

The Communist figure from the Communists stated following discussions 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 said she was “stunned” Macron had provided few concessions to the left, adding that the situation would deteriorate.