Macron reappoints Lecornu as French PM after days of turmoil

President Emmanuel Macron has asked Sébastien Lecornu to return as French prime minister only four days after he stood down from the post, sparking a week of high drama and political turmoil.

Macron made the announcement late on Friday, hours after meeting all the main parties together at the Élysée Palace, except the leaders of the far right and far left.

Lecornu's return comes as a surprise, as he said only two days ago he was not "chasing the job" and his "mission is over".

It is not even certain that he will be able to form a government, but he will have to hit the ground running. The new prime minister faces a deadline of next Monday to put next year's budget before parliament.

The Élysée said the president had "tasked [Lecornu] with forming a government" and Macron's entourage indicated he had been given "carte blanche" to act.

Lecornu then released a long statement on X in which he accepted "out of duty the mission entrusted to me by the president, to do everything to provide France with a budget by the end of the year and respond to the everyday problems of our compatriots".