16/07/2026 04:51 - Internacionales
On July 15, 2026, a historic milestone will be reached in European legislative history. The French Parliament has definitively approved the law legalizing euthanasia and assisted suicide. To clarify these concepts for our international readers: euthanasia involves a medical professional administering a life-ending substance, while assisted suicide allows the patient to self-administer the medication under medical supervision.
The vote saw significant support, though not without intense debate: 291 votes in favor, 241 against, and 29 abstentions. With this decision, President Emmanuel Macron fulfills a commitment he made in 2022. France thus becomes the sixth country in the world to legalize these practices, joining the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, and Portugal.
The new legislation establishes a rigorous framework to access the right to a dignified death, ensuring absolute safety and clear intention. The requirements that must be met include:
The procedure, carefully designed to safeguard the patient, involves a series of mandatory steps:
The approval of this law was not without moral and religious tensions. In France, a country with deep Catholic roots but a strong secular tradition (laïcité), the Bishop of Bayonne, Marc Aillet, issued a strong warning stating that Catholic deputies who voted in favor of the measure could not take communion. However, Aillet also firmly defended the right to conscientious objection for healthcare personnel, ensuring that no doctor or nurse will be forced to participate in these procedures against their convictions.
Sources: InfoVaticana, La Nación.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
