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French Senate Blocks Assisted Dying Proposal Once More
(MENAFN) France’s Senate voted Tuesday to reject a bill aimed at establishing a legal framework for assisted dying, marking the second time the chamber has opposed the measure, while conservative figures renewed calls for the issue to be decided through a public referendum.
According to reports, senators from the upper house — where right-wing and centrist groups hold the majority — dismissed the remaining sections of the legislation after previously voting against what had been described as the reform’s central provision.
The bill, supported by the government of President Emmanuel Macron and earlier approved by the National Assembly, proposed creating regulated conditions under which assisted dying would be permitted for patients suffering from severe and incurable illnesses.
Bruno Retailleau, leader of the Republicans party and a potential presidential contender, criticized the prospect of the government allowing the lower house to bypass the Senate’s opposition and make the final decision.
“This very serious anthropological question” should be decided by the French people, he told senators while calling for a referendum.
“Such a fundamental text must benefit from a minimum of consensus,” he added.
Despite the Senate vote, the legislation is still expected to move forward because the government has the authority to grant the National Assembly the final say, where supporters of the proposal hold stronger backing.
Philippe Mouiller, who heads the Senate Social Affairs Committee, stated that senators were unable to agree on “a guiding principle” regarding the reform.
Critics from opposition parties accused the Senate majority of obstructing meaningful debate surrounding the issue.
“The Senate has missed an opportunity,” Socialist Senate leader Patrick Kanner said, arguing the upper chamber was once again shifting responsibility to lawmakers in the National Assembly.
The French government is reportedly aiming to secure final approval of the legislation before parliament begins its summer recess in July.
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