French gov't to pass controversial reform bill without parliament approval

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls on Tuesday decided to pass the controversial "Law on Growth and Activity" via a decree and without lawmakers' vote, a move that could trigger the government's collapse.

"I won't take any risks. The interest of France urges us to do so. Nothing will make us retreat," Valls told the Parliament.

"There was probably a majority for this bill, but it was not certain, so I decided to take no chances. I couldn't risk seeing a plan so crucial to our economy be rejected," he added.

With a series of laws presented by Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron, the Socialists aimed at unblocking economy of the eurozone's second leading power, which is haunted by a long-running rise in unemployment and wane growth.

The 37 years old ex-banker wants to let shops open up to midnight Sundays all year round from five Sundays currently, with more flexibility on opening hours in tourist zones.

He also eyes to open long-distance bus routes and make professions, such as notaries, face greater competition, a proposal that triggered notarial lawyers' demonstration.

Macron also outlined other measures, including transport liberalization and softening regulation of Sunday work, in order "to remove hurdles to revive (economic) activity."

With the 49-3 decree, the government will go through with their economic law without the Parliament's vote but risks losing the confidence vote.

Opponents could censure the government and seek no-confidence vote in the next 24 hours. The motion proposed by the conservative UMP party and centrists, will pass on the National Assembly for a vote on Thursday evening. If the motion fails, the law would be adopted.

It is the first time since 2006 that any government has used the decree to push through a bill without a vote, sparking critics from the right and the left calling the executive team to step down.

"There is no more left-wing majority to back the ultra-liberal policy supported by the government. We want a new government with left policies," said Andre Chassaigne, a Communist lawmaker.

To Marine Le Pen, President of the far-Right National Front party (FN), the 49-3 decree was a denial of democracy and showed that the government lost its majority.

In the left camp, Jean-Chritophe Cambadelis, the Socialist Party's General Secretary, believed that using 49-3 decree would allow "to avoid psychodrama while demonstrating that there is no alternative majority." Endit