French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou was set to fall in a confidence vote in parliament on Monday, warning in a final speech that the country was facing a "life-threatening" crisis over its debt.

Bayrou, who has been in the job for just nine months, blindsided even his allies by calling a confidence vote to end a lengthy standoff over his austerity budget, which foresees almost 44 billion euros ($52 billion) of cost savings to reduce France's debt pile.

Opposition parties across the board have made it clear they will vote against his minority government, making it highly improbable he will get enough backing to survive -- he needs a majority of the 577 MPs in the National Assembly.

Bayrou is the sixth prime minister under President Emmanuel Macron since the head of state was first elec

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