French government heading towards collapse as PM Barnier faces no-confidence vote

The French government is heading towards collapse after far-right and left-wing parties said they would vote for a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Michel Barnier.

It follows Mr Barnier's decision to use special powers to force the social security budget through the lower house of parliament without a final vote after a last-minute concession was not enough to win support from the far-right National Rally (RN).

RN leader Marine Le Pen said her party would table its own no-confidence motion but would also vote for any similar bill from other parties.

"The French have had enough," she said.

"Maybe they thought with Michel Barnier things would get better, but they were even worse."

Mathilde Panot, from the hard-left France Unbowed party, said: "Faced with this umpteenth denial of democracy, we will censure the government...

"We are living in political chaos because of Michel Barnier's government and Emmanuel Macron's presidency."

If all RN politicians vote with the left to topple Mr Barnier, his government will fall.

Mr Barnier's far-right and left-wing rivals now have 24 hours to table a no-confidence motion and a vote could take place as early as Wednesday.

The last time a French government was forced out in such a vote was in 1962.

Mr Barnier has been struggling to get the 2025 budget through France's parliament.

It would attempt to rein in France's spiralling public deficit through tax increases and spending cuts worth €60bn (£50bn).

Mr Barnier has urged politicians not to back the no-confidence vote, telling them: "We are at a moment of truth.

"The French will not forgive us for putting the interests of individuals before the future of the country."

Since his minority government was formed in September, it has relied on RN support in order to survive.

The crisis over the budget bill could now see the RN topple Mr Barnier.

(c) Sky News 2024: French government heading towards collapse as PM Barnier faces no-confidence vote