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PoliticsFrench National Assembly approves assisted dying bill on third reading, final vote set for July 15
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On June 30, 2026, the French National Assembly approved the assisted dying bill for the third time by a vote of 295 to 232, advancing a flagship promise of President Emmanuel Macron's second term. The bill establishes a right to assisted dying for patients with serious and incurable conditions, requiring self-administration of the lethal product unless physically impossible. The final adoption vote is set for July 15, bypassing the Senate which is expected to oppose. Key changes removed the offense of obstructing assisted dying and incitement provisions. The text remained largely unchanged after reviewing 1,800 opponent-introduced amendments. Debates have stirred political opposition, with centrist François Bayrou warning of a 'snowball effect' seen in other countries. The process began with a citizens' convention in 2022 and a government bill outline in March 2024, interrupted by the National Assembly dissolution.
Source report
The National Assembly voted on Tuesday, June 30, by a large majority to establish a right to assisted dying, a flagship promise of Emmanuel Macron's second term that may soon reach its conclusion.
The vote resulted in 295 deputies in favor and 232 against. This marks the third time the Assembly has approved the text, following previous votes in May 2025 (305 votes to 199) and February 2026 (299 votes to 226).
The reform will now return to the Senate, which is expected to oppose it again. However, the government has decided to give the final say to the National Assembly, with the definitive vote scheduled for July 15.
Key Details of the Bill
The bill seeks to establish a right to assisted dying under strict conditions. Over multiple readings, deputies have refined:
- Eligibility criteria
- Procedural steps
The rapporteurs describe the system as "balanced," while opponents – primarily from the right and the National Rally (RN) – denounce what they call a civilizational shift and a procedure they consider insufficiently regulated.
Final Version and Key Changes
After a week of debate during a heatwave marked by air conditioning breakdowns in the hemicycle, deputies completed review of approximately 1,800 amendments on Saturday – most introduced by opponents. Few were adopted, and the retained version remains largely unchanged. It is expected to be the final version, as no further amendments can be made during the definitive reading.
During the review, the following provisions were removed:
- The offense of obstructing assisted dying (inspired by the existing offense for obstruction of abortion)
- The offense of incitement
The Assembly also confirmed that self-administration of the lethal product must remain the rule. A doctor or nurse may intervene only if the patient is physically unable to self-administer.
Background
The vote on July 15 will mark the final step in a process that began in 2022. After a citizens' convention tasked with reflecting on the subject, President Macron presented the broad outlines of a bill in March 2024, though its review was interrupted by the dissolution of the National Assembly.
Political Reactions
The debates continue to divide political leaders. François Bayrou, president of the MoDem party, stated on Tuesday on Europe 1/Cnews that if he had been a deputy, he "would not have voted" for this law, arguing that "in all countries where this text has been voted, it has had a snowball effect" and conditions have become increasingly lax.
Source
Politique : Toute l’actualité sur Le Monde.fr.Western
Part of this Story
French National Assembly Advances Assisted Dying Bill Toward Final Adoption