France: what are the consequences of the likely vote of no confidence in Barnier’s government?

With the opposition having announced their support for the left-wing motion of no confidence, to be debated on 4 December, Michel Barnier’s minority government is likely to be toppled. The motion came in response to the government’s use of Article 49.3 of the French Constitution to pass the social security funding bill, which is automatically adopted unless a no confidence motion is passed. The text, on which a joint committee had reached agreement, cut the contribution reductions for...