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

François Bayrou is expected to lose the vote as opposition parties relish the opportunity to eject him. Photograph: Thibaud Moritz/Reuters

France is braced for another political crisis as the minority government of François 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.