France’s minority government is on the verge of collapse. It's after Prime Minister Michel Barnier pushed through the 2025 budget without a parliamentary vote and a no confidence vote looks likely on Wednesday.

A no-confidence motion has been triggered in France, supported by both the far-right National Rally and the left-wing New Popular Front, following Prime Minister Michel Barnier's decision to bypass parliament in passing the 2025 budget. The controversial budget, which aims to reduce France’s deficit, proposes cutting €40 billion in spending and increasing taxes by €20 billion. However, Barnier attempted to push the budget through without securing the backing of other political parties, a move that has sparked strong opposition.

Lawmakers from the National Rally and the left-wing coalition now have enough votes to potentially topple Barnier's government. Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally, has confirmed that her party will support the left-wing coalition's no-confidence motion in addition to their own, signaling a rare alignment between the far-right and the left.

If the no-confidence vote passes on Wednesday, Barnier would be forced to resign. In such a case, President Emmanuel Macron may ask Barnier and his government to remain in a caretaker role while he seeks a new prime minister. This development would be historic, marking only the second time in modern French history that a government has been ousted since the establishment of the Fifth Republic in 1958, and the first such occurrence since 1962.

As the political crisis deepens, France’s political future remains uncertain. The country faces several possible outcomes, including the formation of a new government or the establishment of a technocratic interim leadership. 

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