On eve of no-confidence vote, French PM says he will not give in to ‘blackmail’ over budget

Speaking on the eve of a no-confidence vote in the French parliament, Prime Minister Michel Barnier said he would not give in to “blackmail” from the far-right National Rally (RN) party. Barnier’s minority government relied on far-right support for its survival before mutual recriminations broke out over failing to reach a budget deal, prompting the RN to join a left-wing push to bring down his government.