France will launch reforms to help women who fear they have been drugged and then raped, including state-funded test kits, Prime Minister Michel Barnier said on Monday, in the midst of a mass rape trial that has shocked the country.

Thousands of people have taken part in nationwide protests in France demanding better protection of women amid a high-profile rape case currently awaiting a verdict in court. The CGT trade union spoke of 100,

French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has threatened bring down France’s minority government by the end of the year unless changes are made to the country's budget bill.

The National Rally says it will support moves to oust the government if budget concessions aren't made, as France faces further political turmoil.