President of National Rally says party will trigger a no-confidence vote by 2pm without concessions from prime minister Michel Barnier

In just a few hours on Monday, lawmakers are set to gather in the National Assembly to vote on next year’s social security budget, with Barnier aiming to regain control over France’s spiraling deficit. If Barnier tries to circumvent a vote, the political opposition could cause his government to fall.

A commission of Senators and members of the National Assembly have hashed out a compromise 2025 budget that, if passed by the both full assemblies, could avoid the government having to force the bill through without a vote.

Far-right leader holds prime minister’s future in her hands as eurozone’s second biggest economy hurtles toward political and financial uncertainty.

The future for French Prime Minister Michel Barnier's government looks bleak, with his struggles to push the 2025 budget through a polarised parliament increasingly likely to end in the toppling of his fragile coalition.

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier must make further budget concessions to avoid a no confidence motion that could topple his government, National Rally lawmaker Marine Le Pen said on Sunday. Le Pen has given Barnier until Monday to yield to budget demands from the National Rally (RN) or face the threat that they would back a likely no confidence motion against his government,

To survive the vote in the fractured lower house, Barnier needs Marine Le Pen's party to abstain, otherwise his government and the budget bill could fall, plunging France into a political crisis.

The French government “has put an end to discussions” on possible changes to the social security bill, Marine Le Pen told AFP on Sunday, paving the way for a possible no-confidence vote as soon as Wednesday.