French budget talks are moving ahead and must not be "taken hostage" by a dispute over remarks the prime minister made about immigration, government spokeswoman Sophie Primas said on Wednesday. The budget talks were on the verge of collapse on Wednesday,

PARIS (Reuters) - French budget talks were on the verge of collapse on Wednesday, a day after Socialist party officials suspended their participation in protest over remarks about immigration by the prime minister. In a television interview on Monday, Prime Minister Francois Bayrou referred to "a feeling of invasion" by immigrants.

French lawmakers on Thursday will try to reach a budget compromise that can get enough support to avert another government collapse and restore financial certainty for the country.

French budget talks teetered on the brink of collapse on Wednesday, a day after Socialist party officials suspended their participation in protest over remarks about immigration by Prime Minister Francois Bayrou,