French PM’s job on line with call for confidence vote

FRANCE’S embattled Prime Minister Francois Bayrou said this week his government would request a vote of confidence on September 8, seeking parliamentary backing for his battle against soaring public debt.

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The move is high-risk for both Bayrou, whose minority government could be toppled, and President Emmanuel Macron, now on his sixth prime minister since taking office in 2017.

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen said her National Rally party would not back Bayrou’s planned cuts, suggesting Bayrou’s government could face defeat in the vote.

The announcement came as calls mounted in France to stage protests on September 10.