Unsurprisingly, the debate on the end of life does not find a way out in the Assembly

The deputies of the majority, like those of the oppositions, gathered, Thursday, April 8, at the National Assembly to debate the bill (PPL) “giving and guaranteeing a free and chosen end of life” of deputy Olivier Falorni (Charente-Maritime, Liberties and Territories). The often heated discussions, punctuated with personal anecdotes and very contrasting opinions, led in extremis to the adoption of the first article of this bill which aims to authorize “Active medical assistance in dying” for people with “Serious and incurable affection”. But, unsurprisingly, after seven hours of discussions, the battle for amendments did not allow the entire text to be examined before midnight, making it impossible to adopt this PPL. The vote on article 1 was therefore only symbolic.

The adoption of this article was a real coup, as the debates were until the end paralyzed by a handful of deputies Les Républicains (LR), opposed to the measures presented by Mr. Falorni. Already author of nearly 2,300 amendments for the session, the deputies Marc Le Fur, Julien Ravier, Xavier Breton or even Patrick Hetzel again tabled several hundred sub-amendments on Thursday morning to prevent the adoption of the first article of the bill.

Article reserved for our subscribers Read also End-of-life debate transcends lines in Parliament

“It is clear that this text invites us to a rupture, to the transgression of a major prohibition of our society: not to deliberately cause death”, defended the LR deputy for Ain, Xavier Breton. Unthinkable for them to deal with such a delicate subject within the framework of a parliamentary niche, which limits discussions on the bills chosen by the opposition groups to one day. At LR, other deputies have expressed their disagreement with this group of diehards. “If the opportunity is given to me to be able to vote, I will vote for this text”, said LR deputy for Oise, Eric Woerth.

Debate, then vote. The majority of elected officials wanted only that. For his first speech in front of the Hemicycle, Olivier Falorni did not skimp on the staging. Two imposing piles of files containing the 4,000 amendments to the text were placed in front of him, in the rostrum. “These sheets have only one goal: to prevent the National Assembly, to prevent the representatives of the nation, the deputies, from voting here, sovereignly! “, he claimed. “The first discussions on euthanasia on these benches date back to 1978. (…) Let us vote! “, added his counterpart from La France insoumise (LFI), Caroline Fiat. Ovated, Mr. Falorni himself applauded his colleagues Jean-Louis Touraine (LRM), Caroline Fiat and Marine Brenier (LR), all authors of several similar PPLs since 2017.

You have 53.08% of this article left to read. The rest is for subscribers only.