French opposition parties have said they will not back Prime Minister François Bayrou after he called a vote of confidence on 8 September on plans for deep budget cuts.
Bayrou, who has led a minority government since last December, called the vote on Monday, warning France was facing a worrying and therefore decisive moment. Yes, it's risky, but it's even riskier not to do anything, he said, in the face of France's mounting budget deficit.
From the National Rally on the right to the Socialists, Greens and France Unbowed on the left, opposition parties lined up to say they would vote against him.
Bayrou called the vote two days before protests have been called across France to block everything.
The "Bloquons tout" movement, which began on social media but has since been backed by the unions and far left, emerged after Bayrou announced plans in July for almost €44bn (£38bn) in budget cuts.
Reacting to news of the vote, France's CAC-40 share index fell 1.59% on Monday and then a further 2% on Tuesday morning.
Finance Minister Eric Lombard said on Tuesday that collectively we have to find a way to prepare a budget for recovery for 2026.
Last year's budget deficit hit 5.8% of France's economic output (GDP) and Bayrou said France was in danger and parliament would be asked to choose the path that allows us to escape from this curse [of indebtedness].
If the government does collapse, President Macron faces the choice of either leaving Bayrou in place as head of a caretaker government, naming another prime minister or calling new elections.
