Live blog: French government set to fall

PARIS — After nearly two weeks as a political dead man walking, French Prime Minister François Bayrou’s moment of reckoning has arrived.

Bayrou and his minority government on Monday will face a confidence vote over a proposed €43.8 billion budget squeeze that, barring a miraculous change of heart from a major bloc of opposition lawmakers, they are almost certain to lose.

Toppling the government would likely force President Emmanuel Macron to hunt for a fifth head of government in less than two years as Paris scrambles to assuage financial markets that it can sufficiently rein in runaway public spending.

We’ll bring you the latest from newsmakers hitting the airwaves on French radio and television. We’ll be following developments and watching financial markets in the lead-up to the proceedings in the National Assembly, which are slated to begin at 3 p.m.

For more on what to expect, check out our guide on how to watch the government collapse like a pro (INSERT LINK SUNDAY).