Macron on brink again as new PM faces second crisis in just days over £33.5bn cuts

Emmanuel Macron's new Prime Minister may only have been in his role since the start of September, but he's already had to see off a no-confidence motion and he may be on the cusp of another one.

Mr Barnier, the EU's former chief Brexit negotiator, was made French Prime Minister on September 5. However, his appointment sparked outrage among large sections of the country's National Assembly.

The 73-year-old is from the centre-right Republican party, which got trounced in the summer's election. Despite this, he was Mr Macron's pick to lead the government.

Earlier this week, Mr Barnier presented his budget for next year, which includes drastic tax hikes and spending cuts. Unsurprisingly, it's been met with outcry from the far-left New Popular Front - the largest bloc in the Assembly. The French PM has a few options to get his budget through, but if he's too aggressive he may bring about a confidence motion. If he loses that, the government will fall.

Mr Barnier has made proposals for almost £33.5bn of spending cuts and nearly £17bn in tax rises.

However, to get it through, he'll need to hope the far-right and far-left don't team up and vote against it.

The far-right National Rally led by Jordan Bardella could work with the left-wing coalition New Popular Front to thwart Mr Barnier's proposals.

However, given the New Popular Front, which comprises communists, socialists, and greens, came together to prevent the National Rally from winning the July election, a deal between them may be unlikely.

Discussing the plan, Manuel Bompard, a lawmaker for the far-left LFI party, said: "This is the most violent austerity plan that this country has ever seen. It will cause French people to suffer."

Defending his budget plans on Thursday, Mr Barnier said: "The attractiveness or credibility of the French signature must be preserved."

While Budget Minister Laurent Saint-Martin added: "We cannot wait. We must make brave choices now to avoid painful choices later."

The PM will be able to use Article 49.3 of the French constitution to force through his austerity plans, however doing so would likely trigger opposition parties to call a vote of no confidence.