Euthanasia: Lecornu will refer the matter to the Constitutional Council after the parliamentary vote

Paris – 15 July 2026: Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu intends to refer the matter to the Conseil constitutionnel, the French Constitutional Council, following the planned final vote in the National Assembly on the bill concerning assisted dying. According to sources close to President Emmanuel Macron, the decision was coordinated between Matignon and the Élysée Palace. The government presents this step as the conclusion of a lengthy parliamentary and democratic process.

The National Assembly was due to hold its final consideration on Wednesday, 15 July. At the time of the announcement, there was no officially confirmed final result. After several rejections in the Senate, the National Assembly may have the final say in this legislative process. The Senate last rejected the text on 7 July; this enabled the final reading at the Palais Bourbon.

The government justifies the preventive review by citing the reform’s particular ethical and legal issues. Matignon refers in particular to human dignity, as well as to the conditions under which the person concerned must make a free and informed decision. The review is also intended to clarify whether the rules for medical personnel and the implementation of the procedure comply with constitutional requirements.

Under certain conditions, the text provides access to a lethal substance. As a general rule, the person concerned must take it independently; if they are physically unable to do so, administration may be carried out by a doctor or healthcare professional. According to the previous version, a reflection period of at least two days is provided between the medical decision and confirmation of the patient’s wish. This period is among the disputed points.

The bill has a long institutional history. It is linked to Macron’s 2022 campaign promise, the 2023 Citizens’ Convention on the End of Life, and the first government draft in 2024. However, after the dissolution of the National Assembly in June 2024, the procedure had to be restarted. The current final stage follows several readings and an unsuccessful attempt at reconciliation between the two chambers.

A referral to the Constitutional Council before promulgation is possible under Article 61 of the Constitution. It may be initiated, among others, by the President, the Prime Minister, the presidents of both chambers of parliament, or respectively sixty deputies or senators. The Council generally decides within one month; the referral suspends the deadline for promulgation. Senate President Gérard Larcher and senators from the right-wing majority have also announced their own legal action.

Politically, Lecornu’s move is therefore less a rejection of a key project of Macron’s second presidential term than an attempt to legally ensure its entry into force. The constitutional proceedings may uphold individual provisions, express reservations about them, or remove them from the law. Only once they are concluded will the President be able to promulgate the text. Further practical implementation will depend on implementing regulations and the organisation of the healthcare system.