The French National Assembly passed a bill to legalise euthanasia in its first reading by a wide majority, crossing a crucial line toward loosening its end-of-life law. Source: The Tablet.
On Tuesday, 305 deputies voted in favour, 199 against, and 57 abstained. The vote largely followed the political divide, with leftist parties supporting the initiative and rightists opposing it, while President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist bloc was divided.
It was a free vote and reports yesterday morning listed which deputies were for or against the bill.
The text, which French religious leaders called an “anthropological rupture” in a joint warning before the vote, now goes to the more conservative Senate where some changes are expected.
“The French bishops’ conference … reiterates its deep concern regarding the passage of the law on the ‘right to assisted dying’,” said a Church statement, pledging to “continue to contribute to this major societal debate throughout the ongoing legislative process”.
Hailing it as “an important step”, Mr Macron said “with respect for sensitivities, doubts, and hopes, the path of fraternity that I hoped for is gradually opening up. With dignity and humanity.”
Mr Macron, who has flailed about politically since the snap election he called and lost last year, has suggested a referendum if bargaining between the National Assembly and the Senate gets bogged down.
It is not yet clear whether the two houses will hit an impasse and whether Mr Macron – who supports the reform – would risk a referendum.
Opponents have long argued that the current law allowing palliative care should be better applied, and a separate bill in support of this cause passed unanimously just before deputies took up the more divisive end-of-life bill.
The bishops said they would continue to advise politicians “to inform their discernment regarding this infinitely serious, complex, and even intimidating subject of end-of-life support”.
FULL STORY
French parliament passes assisted dying bill, but hurdles remain (By Tom Heneghan, The Tablet)
