France faces new political crisis as PM expected to lose confidence vote

Francois Bayrou says he will fight like a dog' to stay in power but he appears almost certain to be toppled

France is braced for another political crisis as the minority government of Francois Bayrou appears almost certain to be toppled in a confidence vote next month, amid deep political divisions over an unpopular austerity budget and debt-reduction plan.

I will fight like a dog," the centrist prime minister told L'Express on Tuesday after his surprise decision to call a vote of confidence from parliamentarians.