French PM to Hold Confidence Vote on September 16

France's prime minister will hold a parliamentary vote of confidence on September 16, the presidency said Wednesday, as the ruling Socialist party suffers a crisis that mirrors that of the entire country.

Manuel Valls had already announced his intention to hold the vote last week, shortly after tendering the government's resignation when his firebrand, left-wing economy minister publicly challenged the country's economic direction. Valls replaced him with a former banker in the quick reshuffle that ensued.

The move angered the left flank of a deeply divided party that is going through a crisis that reflects that of France as a whole, weighed down by stagnant growth, record-high unemployment and a deeply unpopular leader.

On Wednesday, the presidency said that the cabinet had authorized the prime minister to deliver a "general policy statement" -- or work program -- to parliament on September 16, which will be followed by a confidence vote.

Valls confidently declared last week that "the majority will be there" for the vote.

But the work program contains a policy called the Responsibility Pact that offers tax breaks to businesses in exchange for jobs, funded by big public spending cuts, which is deeply unpopular with rebel left-wing Socialist lawmakers.

Observers believe it is unlikely these rebels will choose to vote against Valls. If the prime minister does not get a majority, however, a dramatic dissolution of parliament would be inevitable, plunging France further into crisis.