French Government Faces Make-or-Break Vote

French lawmakers stirred up a potential government shake-up on Monday. They introduced a no-confidence motion targeting Prime Minister Michel Barnier. This move could lead to the far-right party taking the helm. The trigger? Barnier's 2025 budget plan, which includes hefty tax hikes and spending cuts. He aimed to tackle France's high deficit, projected to hit 6. 1% of GDP next year. However, his strategy didn't sit well with the left and the far-right National Rally led by Marine Le Pen. They saw this as an opportunity to challenge Barnier’s minority government. A pre-debate vote is set for Wednesday. If the no-confidence motion passes, it would send shockwaves through France and Europe, calling into question the country's fiscal discipline and political stability. Lawmaker Mathilde Panot slammed Barnier's government, calling it "illegitimate" and warned that President Emmanuel Macron could be next in the line of fire. Meanwhile, Le Pen asserted that the French people are fed up with Barnier's leadership, stating, "It's worse than before. " She gave Barnier a deadline to meet the National Rally's demands, but he only agreed to some.