French Government Splits End-of-Life Legislation into Two Separate Proposals

The National Assembly will vote in May on distinct bills addressing palliative care and assisted dying, sparking debate within the government and among lawmakers.

The French government has decided to split its end-of-life legislation into two separate bills: one focusing on palliative care and the other on assisted dying.
Both bills will be introduced by individual deputies rather than the government, with Olivier Falorni sponsoring the assisted dying proposal and Frédéric Valletoux handling the palliative care bill.
The two proposals will be debated concurrently in the National Assembly starting May 12, with a final vote scheduled for late May.
Prime Minister François Bayrou's decision to separate the proposals has been supported by opponents of euthanasia but criticized by advocates who fear it could stall progress on assisted dying legislation.
The move has also created divisions within the government, as Health Minister Catherine Vautrin and Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet have expressed preferences for a single, unified bill.