Will the far right in France seize the chance to topple the government?

Triggered by an austerity budget, a no-confidence vote threatens fresh instability - and Macron's future

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With threats mounting inside and outside the EU's borders and Germany in paralysis, the last thing Europe needed was fresh upheaval besetting its other big power. Yet that is exactly what France is facing with a no-confidence vote expected today that could bring down the government.

The shaky minority administration assembled by Prime Minister Michel Barnier only three months ago began to wobble badly on Monday after he triggered an extraordinary constitutional mechanism to force through an austerity budget.