French budget talks are moving ahead and must not be "taken hostage" by a dispute over remarks the prime minister made about immigration, government spokeswoman Sophie Primas said on Wednesday. The budget talks were on the verge of collapse on Wednesday,

French lawmakers on Thursday will try to reach a budget compromise that can get enough support to avert another government collapse and restore financial certainty for the country.

PARIS (Reuters) - French budget talks were on the verge of collapse on Wednesday, a day after Socialist party officials suspended their participation in protest over remarks about immigration by the prime minister. In a television interview on Monday, Prime Minister Francois Bayrou referred to "a feeling of invasion" by immigrants.

French lawmakers are negotiating the 2025 budget bill to restore investor confidence. Critical to this process is the potential no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Francois Bayrou. Socialist party officials are pivotal in this political drama,

French budget negotiations were suspended on Wednesday after Socialist Party leaders withdrew from talks in protest over Prime Minister Francois Bayrou's controversial migrant comments.

A panel of French lawmakers were meeting on Thursday to thrash out the final text of a much delayed 2025 budget bill that is key to restoring investor confidence over the country's finances and the government's survival.

French budget talks teetered on the brink of collapse on Wednesday, a day after Socialist party officials suspended their participation in protest over remarks about immigration by Prime Minister Francois Bayrou,