PARIS— France’s prime minister says the decision to force through a contentious pro-business economic reform is a question of “efficiency.”
Prime Minister Manuel Valls is going before parliament on Tuesday to invoke rarely used special powers to force the bill through without a vote. The contentious measure, opposed by some fellow Socialist lawmakers as well as their conservative counterparts, would free up labor rules and regulations.
Valls forced the measure through in February and has to do it again after a new version added changes to the text. French President Francois Hollande said the final version will be approved by July 14, linking his economic legacy to France’s national holiday.
The patchwork of measures includes allowing more stores to open on Sundays and evenings and making layoffs easier.
