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,

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 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.