France, Jan. 21 -- Lecornu, who heads up a fragile minority government, appears to have won a stay of execution.

He invoked article 49.3 of the Constitution on Tuesday to force the finance side of the budget bill through the lower house without a vote. The move came after he failed to win over enough lawmakers to get the legislation voted on in the usual way.

In October, the prime minister promised the opposition that he would not resort to using the 49.3 clause - known colloquially as the "nuclear legislative weapon" of parliament - but would instead look to compromise.

That, however, didn't work and discussions with opposition parties have been in deadlock for the last three months.

"Things are now at an impasse. The text can no lon...