New Delhi, Dec. 11 -- France's lower house of parliament narrowly approved on Tuesday a key health care budget bill, offering the minority government some relief from political turmoil at the cost of suspending President Emmanuel Macron's flagship pension reform.

The bill passed by 247 votes in favor while 234 lawmakers voted against.

The Social Security budget includes the suspension of Macron's unpopular pension changes, which raise the retirement age from 62 to 64, until after the next presidential election in 2027.

With no majority at the National Assembly, centrist Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu offered to put the reform on hold as a concession to the Socialists, who voted for the bill. The move aims to prevent his fragile minor...