The French parliament on Wednesday voted to oust premier Michel Barnier over his proposed deficit-cutting budget, plunging the country into deeper political turmoil. 

A motion of no confidence was approved by 331 votes to 246 as Marine Le Pen’s far right party teamed up with a leftist bloc to bring down Barnier’s minority government. Barnier has previously warned of a financial and economic “storm” should the government collapse without adopting his controversial 2025 budget that included €60bn in tax hikes and spending cuts. 

President Emmanuel Macron will now have to select another prime minister, a task made difficult by a raucous parliament divided into three blocs, none of which is close to having a governing majority.