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President Emmanuel Macron has asked his former prime minister to return as French prime minister only four days after he left the post, causing a period of high drama and political turmoil.

The president stated late on Friday, hours after gathering key political groups collectively at the official residence, omitting the leaders of the political extremes.

Lecornu's return came as a surprise, as he stated on broadcast recently 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 start immediately. He faces a time limit on the start of the week to put next year's budget before lawmakers.

Governing Obstacles and Budgetary Strains

The presidency announced the president had assigned him to build a cabinet, and those close to the president indicated he had been given full authority to act.

Lecornu, who is one of the president's key supporters, then issued a long statement on an online platform in which he accepted “out of duty” the mission assigned by the president, to strive to provide France with a budget by the December and address the everyday problems of our countrymen.

Ideological disagreements over how to reduce government borrowing and balance the books have caused the resignation of two of the past three prime ministers in the recent period, so his challenge is immense.

The nation's debt earlier this year was close to 114% of national income – the third largest in the euro area – and current shortfall is estimated to hit 5.4 percent of economic output.

The premier emphasized that no one can avoid the imperative of restoring government accounts. In just a year and a half before the end of Macron's presidency, he warned that those in the cabinet would have to delay their political goals.

Ruling Amid Division

What makes it even harder for Lecornu is that he will face a show of support in a National Assembly where Macron has is short of votes to back him. His public standing plummeted in the latest survey, according to an Elabe poll that put his support level on just 14%.

The far-right leader of the right-wing group, which was not invited of the president's discussions 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 “bad joke”.

The National Rally would quickly propose a vote of no confidence against a struggling administration, whose only reason for being was dreading polls, the leader stated.

Seeking Support

Lecornu at least knows the pitfalls he faces as he tries to form a government, because he has already devoted 48 hours lately talking to factions that might participate in his administration.

Alone, the moderate factions cannot form a government, and there are divisions within the conservative Republicans who have assisted the ruling coalition since he lacked support in recent polls.

So he will seek left-wing parties for potential support.

As a gesture to progressives, Macron's team hinted the president was considering a delay to portions of his divisive retirement changes implemented recently which extended working life from 62 to 64.

It was insufficient of what socialist figures hoped for, as they were hoping he would select a leader from their side. Olivier Faure of the Socialists commented “since we've not been given any guarantees, we won't give any guarantee” to back the prime minister.

Fabien Roussel from the left-wing party stated following discussions that the left wanted genuine reform, and a prime minister from the central bloc would not be accepted by the public.

Greens leader Marine Tondelier remarked she was surprised the president had given minimal offers to the progressives, adding that outcomes would be negative.