France, July 16 -- MPs voted Wednesday 291 to 241 in favour, the fourth time the chamber has approved the text. The bill also cleared the Assembly in a vote last year but was rejected by the Senate.

Given that resistance, the government eventually allowed the lower house to have the final say without the upper chamber's consent, a mechanism permitted under the constitution.

President Emmanuel Macron, who pledged such reform during his re-election campaign in 2022, welcomed what he called lawmakers' considered and respectful debate on the issue.

Olivier Falorni, the former deputy, turned mayor, who authored and steered the bill through parliament, described the process to French news agency AFP as a marathon strewn with hurdles.

Despit...