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Getty Images<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nA vote of no-confidence in the government headed by Prime Minister Michel Barnier is taking place at the French National Assembly<\/a> at around 19:00 (18:00 GMT).<\/p>\n If – as expected – the vote goes through, the Barnier government will collapse. <\/p>\n Barnier, the former EU Brexit chief negotiator, was picked by President Emmanuel Macron<\/a> to be prime minister just 90 days ago. <\/p>\n Macron, who is currently on a state visit to Saudi Arabia, has said he still believes the Barnier government can survive the vote. “The country’s interests are more important than those of the parties,” he said.<\/p>\n But the left-wing alliance New Popular Front (NFP) <\/a>and Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) MPs already said they will cast their ballots against him, making it mathematically impossible for Barnier to remain in place.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n On Monday, Barnier used special powers to push his 2025 budget through without parliamentary support.<\/p>\n He did so because he knew he had no chance to get the votes he needed from the opposition.<\/p>\n Barnier’s decision to use special powers to pass the budget angered both the NFP and the RN, both of which tabled no-confidence motions against him. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Barnier, 73, has been governing on borrowed time since the day he became prime minister in early September.<\/p>\n This is because his appointment followed two months of political uncertainty sparked by inconclusive snap parliamentary elections, in which no party won enough seats to govern on its own. <\/p>\n He therefore presided over a polarised National Assembly. <\/p>\n His centrist party needed the support of at least one of the two big factions – the NFP or the National Rally (RN) – to pass legislation. <\/p>\n The NFP, whose own candidate for prime minister was rejected by Macron in the summer, was furious Barnier was appointed<\/a> and promised to always vote against him. It also deemed Barnier’s budget – which included \u20ac60bn (\u00a349bn) in deficit reduction – unacceptable. <\/p>\n So the RN’s goodwill has been necessary for the government to stay in place.<\/p>\n But when it came to the budget, and despite numerous concessions, the RN also said it would not endorse Barnier’s bill. <\/p>\n Barnier therefore had no choice but to invoke special powers to push the budget through.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n On Tuesday night, Barnier made a last-ditch attempt on national TV to convince MPs not to vote him down, calling for MPs to vote “beyond their political differences” and for a “common and superior interest”. <\/p>\n However, it is expected that the motion will pass, leading to the collapse of the government. It would be the first time a French government has fallen to a no-confidence vote since 1962. <\/p>\n In that case, Barnier will likely be asked to stay on as caretaker as Macron seeks a new prime minister. <\/p>\nWhat is happening in France?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Why has this happened now?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Why did Barnier force through the budget?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
What happens next?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n