French President Emmanuel Macron has dramatically reappointed Sébastien Lecornu as prime minister, only days after Lecornu's latest attempt to form a government collapsed in a mere 14 hours. This unprecedented move comes amidst a deepening political crisis in France, marked by high drama and significant instability. Lecornu, who had previously served a short 26-day tenure as prime minister before a prior resignation, accepted his return to the role “out of duty,” stating his mission is to provide France with a budget by the end of the year and address the everyday problems faced by French citizens. He emphasized the urgent need to end the political crisis that is exasperating the French people and harming the nation's image and interests.

The reappointment of Lecornu, a 39-year-old loyal ally of Macron, highlights the president's resolve but also his increasing isolation. Macron’s approval ratings have plummeted to a record low of 14%, and he faces the worst domestic crisis since his first election in 2017. France’s parliament remains deeply divided between the left, the far-right, and the centre, with no clear majority since Macron lost it in last year’s elections. This division has led to rapid turnover in the premiership, with Lecornu becoming the third French prime minister in a year, following his predecessor François Bayrou who was ousted over proposed budget cuts.

Lecornu faces an immense challenge, particularly with a looming deadline to put next year's budget before parliament within weeks, if not days. France's public debt stands at almost 114% of its economic output (GDP), the third highest in the eurozone, and this year's budget deficit is projected to hit 5.4% of GDP. Lecornu has set stringent conditions for his new government, insisting that “no-one will be able to shirk” the necessity of restoring France's public finances. He also warned that any minister joining his cabinet, with only 18 months remaining in Macron’s presidency, must put their presidential ambitions on hold.

Forming a stable government will be exceptionally difficult. Macron holds no majority in the National Assembly, and efforts to forge a coalition are fraught with complications. The conservative Republicans, who have historically propped up Macron's governments, are internally split. Their leader, Bruno Retailleau, who harbors presidential ambitions, has unequivocally stated he will not be part of “Lecornu II” and has declared the