🔗 Share this article

The French leader has asked Sébastien Lecornu to return as the nation's premier only four days after he left the post, sparking a period of political upheaval and political turmoil.

The president made the announcement towards the end of the week, following gathering key political groups in one place at the Élysée Palace, omitting the representatives of the far right and far left.

Lecornu's return was unexpected, as he stated on broadcast only two days ago that he was not seeking the position and his task was complete.

It is not even certain whether he will be able to assemble a cabinet, but he will have to hit the ground running. The new prime minister faces a cut-off on the start of the week to present the annual budget before the National Assembly.

Governing Obstacles and Budgetary Strains

The presidency confirmed the president had given him the duty of creating a administration, and Macron's entourage indicated he had been given complete freedom to make decisions.

The prime minister, who is one of Macron's closest allies, then released a comprehensive announcement on an online platform in which he agreed to take on as an obligation the task assigned by the president, to make every effort to finalize financial plans by the end of the year and tackle the daily concerns of our compatriots.

Political divisions over how to bring down France's national debt and cut the budget deficit have led to the fall of multiple premiers in the recent period, so his mission is enormous.

Government liabilities recently was nearly 114 percent of gross domestic product – the third highest in the eurozone – and this year's budget deficit is expected to reach over five percent of economic output.

The premier emphasized that everyone must contribute the imperative of restoring government accounts. In just a year and a half before the conclusion of his term, he warned that anyone joining his government would have to delay their presidential ambitions.

Governing Without a Majority

What makes it even harder for Lecornu is that he will face a vote of confidence in a legislative body where Macron has is short of votes to endorse his government. The president's popularity plummeted recently, according to research that put his approval rating on just 14%.

Jordan Bardella of the National Rally party, which was left out of the president's discussions with political chiefs on the end of the week, remarked that the prime minister's return, by a president increasingly isolated at the presidential palace, is a “bad joke”.

The National Rally would quickly propose a vote of no confidence against a failing government, whose only reason for being was avoiding a vote, he continued.

Building Alliances

The prime minister at least knows the pitfalls he faces as he tries to build a coalition, because he has already used time this week consulting political groups that might support him.

By themselves, the central groups are insufficient, and there are disagreements within the conservative Republicans who have helped prop up Macron's governments since he failed to secure enough seats in the previous vote.

So Lecornu will consider left-wing parties for potential support.

In an attempt to court the left, Macron's team indicated the president was evaluating a pause to portions of his divisive pension reforms enacted last year which raised the retirement age from 62 to 64.

The offer was inadequate of what socialist figures hoped for, as they were expecting he would select a prime minister from the left. Olivier Faure of the Socialists commented lacking commitments, they would withhold backing for the premier.

Fabien Roussel from the left-wing party commented post-consultation that the left wanted genuine reform, and a premier from the president's centrist camp would not be supported by the French people.

Greens leader Marine Tondelier expressed shock Macron had given minimal offers to the progressives, adding that “all of this is going to turn out very badly”.