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The French leader has asked his former prime minister to come back as the nation's premier just days after he left the post, triggering a week of political upheaval and instability.

Macron stated towards the end of the week, shortly after meeting all the main parties collectively at the Élysée Palace, omitting the leaders of the far right and far left.

His reappointment shocked many, as he said on television only two days ago that he was not seeking the position and his task was complete.

Doubts remain whether he will be able to establish a ruling coalition, but he will have to start immediately. Lecornu faces a cut-off on Monday to submit financial plans before parliament.

Leadership Hurdles and Fiscal Demands

The presidency confirmed the president had assigned him to build a cabinet, and Macron's entourage suggested he had been given full authority to make decisions.

The prime minister, who is one of Macron's closest allies, then issued a detailed message on an online platform in which he agreed to take on as an obligation the task given to him by the president, to do everything to secure a national budget by the December and tackle the daily concerns of our fellow citizens.

Ideological disagreements over how to reduce the country's public debt and reduce the fiscal shortfall have led to the fall of several leaders in the past twelve months, so his task is immense.

France's public debt earlier this year was close to 114% of national income – the number three in the euro area – and this year's budget deficit is expected to amount to 5.4 percent of economic output.

Lecornu stated that no one can avoid the imperative of fixing France's public finances. With only 18 months before the completion of his mandate, he warned that prospective ministers would have to put on hold their aspirations for higher office.

Leading Without Support

Compounding the challenge for Lecornu is that he will face a parliamentary test in a National Assembly where Macron has lacks sufficient support to support him. His public standing reached its lowest point recently, according to a survey that put his support level on 14 percent.

The far-right leader of the right-wing group, which was not invited of Macron's talks with political chiefs on the end of the week, commented that Lecornu's reappointment, by a president “more than ever isolated and disconnected” at the official residence, is a poor decision.

They would quickly propose a motion of censure against a failing government, whose only reason for being was fear of an election, Bardella added.

Forming Coalitions

Lecornu at least knows the pitfalls he faces as he tries to establish a cabinet, because he has already spent two days recently consulting factions that might participate in his administration.

On their own, the central groups cannot form a government, and there are divisions within the traditionalists who have supported Macron's governments since he lost his majority in recent polls.

So Lecornu will consider progressive groups for possible backing.

To gain leftist support, officials indicated the president was thinking of postponing to some aspects of his controversial social security adjustments enacted last year which raised the retirement age from the early sixties.

That fell short of what left-wing leaders hoped for, as they were expecting he would appoint a leader from the left. The Socialist leader of the Socialists commented lacking commitments, they would withhold backing for the premier.

Fabien Roussel from the left-wing party stated following discussions that the progressive camp wanted substantive shifts, and a prime minister from the central bloc would not be endorsed by the citizens.

Greens leader the Green figure remarked she was surprised Macron had offered the left almost nothing to the progressives, adding that the situation would deteriorate.