France, Oct. 3 -- France's Prime Minister Sebastian Lecornu on Friday vowed to forgo an infamous article of the constitution that would have allowed him to steamroller a budget bill through parliament without a vote - but left him vulnerable to a vote of no confidence. The move means MPs must agree a compromise before time runs out to pass a budget at the end of the year.

Lecornu said he would not resort to aspecial clause in Article 49.3 of the French constitution - invoked by several of his recent predecessors - because it "essentially allows the government to halt debates".

"I am forgoing it in order to engage the government's responsibility and for the government to write the final version," he told reporters.

"It's a useful tool. ...