London | France’s centre-right prime minister, Michel Barnier, is on the verge of being toppled from office, with populists from the left and right preparing to launch a no-confidence vote against him in parliament.

The potential ousting of President Emmanuel Macron’s man in the National Assembly, just three months into his job, could trigger debilitating political gridlock. No party has a majority, and parliamentary elections cannot be called until July next year.