The French Senate has rejected for the second time the assisted suicide bill under debate, with the leader of the conservative party calling for a referendum on the issue to avoid it being approved without the Senate’s approval. Source: The Tablet.
The National Assembly – France’s lower house – had already approved the bill twice, but on Tuesday the Senate, made up of more conservative and centrist politicians, rejected a key provision of the bill which sought to establish a right to assisted suicide.
On Monday, the Senate voted against Article 2 of the bill by 151 to 118, which dealt with the specifics of the future assisted suicide bill and when it would apply. This article was seen as a key aspect of the bill, and subsequently, the bill was rejected outright.
The Senate did pass another part of the law that improves access to palliative care, without amendment, by 325 votes to 18.
Up until now, the bill has had two positive readings in the National Assembly and two rejections in the Senate.
The third reading in the National Assembly could take place in June, while the third reading in the Senate and the final reading in the National Assembly could take place in July. The government, which backs the bill, is hoping it will pass before the summer recess in mid-July.
The government can give the final decision to the National Assembly, where there are more supporters of the bill. However, Bruno Retailleau, leader of the Republicans (LR) party, said he didn’t agree with this idea, and instead called for a referendum.
He said that such a “serious anthropological question” should be decided by the French people. “Such a fundamental text must benefit from a minimum of consensus,” he added.
Philippe Mouiller, chairman of the Senate Social Affairs Committee, revealed that the Senate couldn’t find “a guiding principle” on the proposed law.
Last week, ahead of the debate, Bishop Marc Aillet of Bayonne, Lescar, and Oloron sent a letter to his diocese, calling on Catholics to oppose the legislation, saying it is “extremely serious” and an “anthropological rupture” that seeks to “abolish the prohibition against killing upon which life in society has always rested.”
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French Senate rejects assisted suicide bill again (By Fionn Shiner, Crux)
