French government collapses as PM loses no-confidence vote

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier has lost a historic no-confidence vote.

French lawmakers voted 331 out of 574 in support of the no-confidence motion, with the left and far-right uniting to bring down the government.

Barnier is expected to tender his resignation, and that of his government, to President Emmanuel Macron shortly.

It marks the first time a French government has been toppled in this way in more than 60 years.

The vote throws the European Union's second-biggest economic power further into political turmoil as France risks entering 2025 without a government or a budget.

Barnier will leave office having served the shortest prime ministerial term in the history of the modern French republic, which was established in 1958.

France is struggling to tame a massive budget deficit which is projected to exceed 6% of national output this year.

Barnier told lawmakers France is paying billions in interest, warning "this is the reality".