French parliament votes to oust PM

France’s parliament brought down the government Monday over its plans to tame the ballooning national debt, deepening a political crisisthat is weakening the euro zone’s second-largest economy at a time of steep global tensions.

- REUTERS

President Emmanuel Macron, who is facing calls from the opposition to dissolve parliament and resign, will instead hunt for his fifth prime minister in less than two years. His office said he would appoint one in the next few days.

The next government’s most pressing task will be to pass a budget, the same challenge Bayrou faced when he took office. Securing the backing of a very divided parliament will be equally hard.