No-confidence vote expected to apply coup de grace for Barnier’s government

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier listens to speeches at the National Assembly prior to a no-confidence (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

France’s far-right and left-wing forces are expected to join together on Wednesday to oust Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government in a historic no-confidence vote prompted by budget disputes.

If the motion succeeds, it would mark the first time a French government has been toppled this way in more than 60 years.