France, July 16 -- MPs voted Wednesday 291 to 241 in favour, the fourth time the lower house 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 chamber to have the final say without the upper house's consent, a mechanism permitted under the constitution.

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

Olivier Falorni, the former MP - now a mayor - who authored and steered the bill through parliament, described the process to French news agency AFP as "a marathon with hurdles". ...