The French government is on the verge of collapsing after both Right-wing and Left-wing alliances combined to file a vote of no confidence against the prime minister, Michel Barnier.
That means the government could fall on Wednesday, bringing down Mr Barnier and creating fresh political turmoil for Emmanuel Macron, France’s embattled president.
Who opposed Mr Barnier’s budget? And why?
What happens if the vote succeeds?
What does it mean for Emmanuel Macron?
What does the vote mean for Europe?
How does the French government work?
What happened?
The prime minister invoked a rare constitutional power to push through his budget without parliament’s approval.
Mr Barnier, who was brought out of retirement by Mr Macron to stabilise the government in September, triggered Article 49.3 to force through a contentious new social security budget.
The budget is controversial among both the Left and Right-wing parties in France, who accused Mr Barnier’s government of adopting austerity.
Mr Barnier’s budget aimed to tackle France’s spiralling deficit by bringing in €60bn (£49bn) in tax rises and spending cuts.