France's minority government is on the brink of collapse after Prime Minister Michel Barnier used special powers to force through his budget without a vote in parliament. Furious opposition parties said they would back a no-confidence motion to oust the former Brexit negotiator in a vote that could take place as early as Wednesday.

Speaking on the eve of a no-confidence vote in the French parliament, Prime Minister Michel Barnier said he would not give in to "blackmail" from the far-right National Rally (RN) party. Barnier’s minority government relied on far-right support for its survival before mutual recriminations broke out over failing to reach a budget deal,