If the choice of two texts may appear simple, it actually marks an important development in the history – already several years long – of the bill initially supposed to bring about the major societal reform of Emmanuel Macron's presidency.
The arguments of the skeptics of assisted dying
The end of life was first the subject of a citizens' convention, then a long period of work by several governments so that a bill finally reached the National Assembly in early 2024. It provided for the development of palliative care but also to legalize, under important conditions, “active assistance in dying” – specifically assisted suicide or, in certain cases, euthanasia.
The dissolution of the summer of 2024 stopped it dead before a first solemn vote, while divisions remain sharp. Supporters of assisted dying see it as an essential issue of freedom and dignity. His opponents, including many religious people and certain caregivers, fear an ethically dangerous development.
By opting for two texts, François Bayrou responds to a request from the second camp and takes up part of the arguments of the skeptics of assisted dying. This “is a question of conscience” when palliative care is “a duty of society towards those who are going through this ordeal”, thus justified the entourage of the tenant of Matignon.
“Separate and ultimately do nothing? »
This position is consistent with that of Sfap, an organization which speaks for palliative care and has always been very wary of the idea of legalizing assisted suicide. Two texts, “it’s something we asked for from the start,” declared its president, Claire Fourcade. “The subject of palliative care, which could move forward very quickly, is slowed down by being coupled with a more divisive and complex subject. »
Among supporters of assisted dying, discontent prevails. The MP for Charente-Maritime Olivier Falorni (related to MoDem), who has long defended legislative developments and had led work on the bill during its passage in the Assembly, expressed his disagreement. Palliative care and assistance in dying are “complementary”, he insisted. These two subjects must “be addressed now and at the same time, not separately and in a long time”.
-“In a situation where there is no budget for France”, the end of life “is not an emergency”
Because supporters of assisted dying fear the abandonment of this aspect, even if the Prime Minister's entourage assures that the two themes will be examined in the “same parliamentary time frame”, without details. “To separate the text is to give in to religious representatives and opponents of euthanasia, to separate and ultimately do nothing? », asked the Association for the Right to Die with Dignity (ADMD) on the X network.
A political issue for Bayrou
For François Bayrou, the issue is also political. Several members of his government expressed their strong reservations about assisted dying, starting with the Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, who clearly said he did not want the text to return to the Assembly. “In a situation where there is no budget for France”, the end of life “is not an emergency”, another minister also argued privately a few weeks ago.
Splitting the text in two “could be a way to go faster and be more effective”, Renaissance MP Stéphanie Rist defended Tuesday during a press briefing, according to which “it was also a strong request from the Senate to move forward in this direction. »
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