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🇫🇷 France /Culture & Society

France's National Assembly advances assisted dying bill amid heated debate

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • French lawmakers are nearing the creation of a right to assisted dying after extensive debate and amendment review in the National Assembly.
  • The proposed law, a key promise of President Macron's second term, would grant assisted dying under specific conditions to terminally ill patients.
  • Debates have been heated, with opposition primarily from the right and far-right citing concerns over insufficient safeguards and strictness of criteria.

France's National Assembly is moving closer to establishing a right to assisted dying, having concluded its third review of the end-of-life bill. The legislation, a significant pledge from President Emmanuel Macron's second term, aims to create a legal framework for assisted dying for patients with severe and incurable conditions.

I am leaving the debates with a certain vertigo, believing the criteria are not strict enough, the procedure not sufficiently regulated, the deadlines too short, and regretting insufficient guarantees for persons subject to protective measures.

— Thibault BazinA right-wing deputy expressed his reservations about the proposed assisted dying law.

Lawmakers have spent the week intensely debating the bill's criteria and procedures. Over 1,800 amendments were considered, with only 23 ultimately adopted. The atmosphere in the assembly has been described as "sometimes overheated," with reports of air conditioning failures adding to the tension.

Supporters, including rapporteur Philippe Vigier, believe the assembly has risen to the occasion, expressing hope for the terminally ill patients who have awaited such a right. However, significant opposition remains, particularly from right-wing and far-right parties. Deputy Thibault Bazin of Les Républicains voiced concerns that the criteria are "not strict enough" and the safeguards are "insufficient," particularly for protected individuals.

I hope to have succeeded in convincing, especially hesitant and undecided deputies, that by principle of precaution and by principle of prudence, one must not vote for this text.

— Christophe BentzA National Rally deputy urged colleagues to reject the assisted dying bill.

RN deputy Christophe Bentz urged hesitant lawmakers to vote against the text, emphasizing principles of precaution and prudence. The bill is scheduled for a final vote in the assembly on Tuesday, with definitive adoption expected by July 15. However, the Senate is widely anticipated to reject the bill, as it has done twice before, leaving the final decision with the National Assembly.

The National Assembly has lived up to its task. I reserve my thoughts for the sick who were waiting so much for us to be able to have a new right to die.

— Philippe VigierThe rapporteur of the bill expressed satisfaction with the assembly's work.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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