French government may pass reform bill by decree

By Ingrid Melander PARIS (Reuters) - The French government said on Tuesday it could pass President Francois Hollande's economic reform bill by decree, removing the risk of it being blocked by a backbench rebellion. The reform package is needed to persuade the European Commission to give Paris more time to get its public finances into line with EU rules. A government source said Prime Minister Manuel Valls could use a decree that would allow the law to go through without a vote. Opponents co