🔗 Share this article

The French leader has asked his former prime minister to resume duties as head of government just days after he stepped down, triggering a stretch of intense uncertainty and crisis.

The president declared towards the end of the week, following gathering leading factions together at the Élysée Palace, except for the figures of the far right and far left.

His reappointment shocked many, as he said on broadcast 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 establish a ruling coalition, but he will have to act quickly. Lecornu faces a deadline on the start of the week to present the annual budget before the National Assembly.

Leadership Hurdles and Fiscal Demands

Officials confirmed the president had assigned him to build a cabinet, and those close to the president implied he had been given full authority to act.

The prime minister, who is one of a trusted associate, then published a comprehensive announcement on an online platform in which he accepted responsibly the task given to him by the president, to make every effort to provide France with a budget by the year's conclusion and respond to the everyday problems of our countrymen.

Ideological disagreements over how to reduce government borrowing and reduce the fiscal shortfall have caused the fall of several leaders in the recent period, so his challenge is enormous.

France's public debt in the past months was nearly 114 percent of gross domestic product – the third highest in the currency union – and the annual fiscal gap is estimated to amount to 5.4 percent of GDP.

The premier stated that everyone must contribute the necessity of restoring the nation's budget. With only 18 months before the end of Macron's presidency, he advised that prospective ministers would have to delay their aspirations for higher office.

Ruling Amid Division

Adding to the difficulty for Lecornu is that he will face a vote of confidence in a parliament where the president has no majority to endorse his government. His public standing plummeted this week, according to a survey that put his support level on just 14%.

The far-right leader of the National Rally party, which was not invited of consultations with faction heads on Friday, commented that Lecornu's reappointment, by a president “more than ever isolated and disconnected” at the Élysée, is a poor decision.

They would promptly introduce a challenge against a failing government, whose sole purpose was dreading polls, the leader stated.

Building Alliances

The prime minister at least is aware of the challenges in his path as he tries to build a coalition, because he has already spent two days this week consulting political groups that might support him.

By themselves, the central groups are insufficient, and there are splits within the conservative Republicans who have supported the administration since he failed to secure enough seats in elections last year.

So Lecornu will seek progressive groups for possible backing.

To gain leftist support, Macron's team hinted the president was thinking of postponing to portions of his divisive pension reforms enacted last year which increased the pension age from the early sixties.

That fell short of what left-wing leaders hoped for, as they were hoping he would select a prime minister from the left. Olivier Faure of the leftist party commented without assurances, they would offer no support for the premier.

The Communist figure from the Communists stated following discussions that the progressive camp wanted real change, and a premier from the president's centrist camp would not be accepted by the French people.

Greens leader the Green figure said she was “stunned” the president had given minimal offers to the progressives, adding that the situation would deteriorate.