Moment of big opportunity and high risk for Marine Le Pen

Backing the collapse of Michel Barnier's French government is a high-stakes moment for Marine Le Pen.

It could lead to her best chance of power yet as head of France’s far-right National Rally.

"I'm not calling for Emmanuel Macron's resignation," she said, but she made it perfectly clear he was responsible for France's political deadlock and "pressure on the president will become stronger and stronger".

Before she had decided to push for Barnier's downfall, she said she wasn’t "the master of the clocks" - the one who dictated the agenda.

But that may well be exactly what she now becomes, by bringing down Emmanuel Macron’s second government since he beat her to the presidency for a second time in 2022.

As his presidency looks ever weaker, it is Le Pen who appears to have the upper hand.

However, this situation is not without immense risks for her too.

Le Pen has played a waiting game for years as National Rally’s leader. She may be tantalisingly close to power now - but she is having to make big choices.