France plunges back into crisis after PM Bayrou’s confidence vote backfires

France found itself mired in yet another crisis on Tuesday, after Prime Minister Francois Bayrou’s gamble to win backing for his deeply unpopular debt-reduction plan backfired, plunging the country deeper into political and financial instability. His proposal was roundly rejected by opposition parties, who said they would relish the opportunity to cut short his minority government’s time in office. Story by Antonia Kerrigan.