France's prime minister has made a last-ditch effort to save his job with an impassioned speech urging lawmakers to back his plan to reduce the country's €3.3trn (£2.86trn) debt.

Francois Bayrou is expected to be toppled in a confidence vote on Monday evening. But addressing the country's National Assembly, the 74-year-old stuck to his position on France's debts.

Arguing the country's spiralling public deficits are threatening the future of the European Union's second-largest economy, Mr Bayrou said state debts will weigh on future generations and leave France vulnerable to foreign creditors.

"Our country works, thinks it's getting richer, but keeps getting poorer," he said, pausing for sips of water when hecklers tried to drown him out.

Mr Bayou has proposed to cut a huge €44bn (£

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