France forces through key reforms bill

Paris

FRANCE'S government on Tuesday forced a key package of economic reforms through Parliament in a rare move that sparked a confidence motion which could in theory bring it down.

Struggling to win a majority for a set of reforms seen as vital to pep up the sluggish French economy, socialist Prime Minister Manuel Valls resorted to a little-used constitutional device to push the bill through Parliament without a vote.

The bill is now considered approved unless MPs adopt a motion of no-confidence to bring down the government - which analysts consider highly unlikely.

The reforms, which include in…