Macron ally criticizes PM's timing on right-to-die law referral

French Industry Minister Marc Ferracci expressed confusion and disapproval over Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu's decision to announce a referral to the Constitutional Council regarding the right-to-die law before the parliamentary vote concluded. Ferracci, a close associate of President Emmanuel Macron, stated on Radio J that he "did not understand" the timing of the announcement, which occurred the day before the final vote.

Ferracci argued that announcing the referral before the vote implied the law was "deeply unbalanced." He found this approach to be "not a good step," especially since the government had taken positions throughout the debates. He emphasized that questioning the debates before the final vote was inappropriate.

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Giving the impression that the text is deeply unbalanced, when the government has taken a position throughout the debates and has been able to do so on the points that have been raised, I find that it is not a good step.

The Prime Minister's referral, lodged on Friday, specifically targets the reflection period for terminally ill patients, the procedures for protected adults, and the interpretation of the conscience clause for institutions. Senate President Gérard Larcher and LR senators also referred the text to the Constitutional Council. Earlier, the President of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, had also criticized the "timing" of Lecornu's announcement, suggesting the press release could have waited until after the vote.

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I did not understand this announcement from the Prime Minister... I did not understand that it came the day before... the vote... Before a vote, one does not, I think, question the debates that have taken place... And I am not the only one who did not understand this.