The future for French Prime Minister Michel Barnier's government looks bleak, with his struggles to push the 2025 budget through a polarised parliament increasingly likely to end in the toppling of his fragile coalition.

A commission of Senators and members of the National Assembly have hashed out a compromise 2025 budget that, if passed by the both full assemblies, could avoid the government having to force the bill through without a vote.

French MPs have spent weeks debating the Barnier government’s hastily prepared budget, which includes €40 billion in spending cuts and €20 billion in tax hikes. The bill aims to reduce the French budget deficit, which is projected to hit 6.1 percent of gross domestic product in 2024.

Some 53% of French people want Prime Minister Michel Barnier's government to fall due to anger over his proposed budget, according to an Ifop-Fiducial poll for Sud Radio published on Thursday. The poll indicated that 67% opposed Barnier's budget,

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier faces a significant political challenge as his budget proposal encounters resistance in a divided parliament. His coalition could collapse if a no-confidence motion is pushed by opponents,

“This is a very serious moment,” Barnier said in an interview with French broadcaster TF1. PARIS — French Prime Minister Michel Barnier said Tuesday that France could face fiscal calamity should lawmakers decide to topple his government over a budget dispute.