French lawmakers prepared to oust the government with a no-confidence motion on Wednesday, plunging the euro zone's second-biggest economic power deeper into political turmoil.

Marine Le Pen pledged to topple Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government after he failed to meet her demands on a new budget, threatening financial and political disruption for France. Barnier on Monday invoked a constitutional mechanism that allows for a social security bill to be adopted without a vote,

Barnier opted to push through controversial reforms to social security by invoking presidential decree after failing to win enough support for the measures. One left wing French MP told the BBC the move had left France in "deep,