French Prime Minister François Bayrou announced a confidence vote scheduled for September 8 on his unpopular budget plans, which include spending cuts and the cancellation of two public holidays. Opposition parties from the left and far-right have declared they will vote against it, potentially leading to the collapse of his centrist government. This political instability could force President Emmanuel Macron to appoint a new prime minister for the third time within a year. The budget aims to reduce France’s deficit, which reached 5.8% of GDP last year, exceeding the EU’s 3% target. The announcement has sparked immediate calls for a general strike on September 10, reminiscent of the 2018 Yellow Vests protests.