The French government collapsed on Wednesday as parliament voted to oust Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his cabinet, throwing the nation into the worst political and fiscal turmoil in decades. Why it matters: The chaos leaves Europe's second largest economy without a functioning government for the first time in 60 years — the most severe fallout to date from the efforts to shrink its deficit.

A political crisis in France, weeks after the German government collapse, could leave two of Europe’s most powerful players rudderless at an uncertain moment.

France’s minority government looks in its final hours as opposition lawmakers from the left and the far right vowed to topple Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s Cabinet

The French government was toppled Wednesday after far-left and far-right lawmakers joined forces to pass a no-confidence measure against Prime Minister Michel Barnier and his cabinet.

The fall of France's government on Wednesday and the failure to pass a budget could make it difficult for Paris to ramp up its support for Ukraine despite President Emmanuel Macron's repeated promises to help Kyiv for as long as necessary.

French Prime Minister Michel Barnier's government could collapse after three months in power due to a coalition of right- and left-leaning political parties opposing a recent budget move.