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

Paris – July 15, 2026: Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu intends to refer the matter to France’s Constitutional Council, the Conseil constitutionnel, after the National Assembly’s scheduled final vote on the assisted dying bill. According to President Emmanuel Macron’s office, the decision was coordinated between Matignon and the Élysée Palace. The government presents the move as a step to conclude a lengthy parliamentary and democratic process.

The National Assembly was scheduled to hold its final deliberation on Wednesday, July 15. At the time of publication, there was no officially confirmed final result. After being rejected several times by the Senate, the National Assembly may have the final say in this legislative process. The Senate most recently rejected the bill on July 7, making a final deliberation at the Palais Bourbon possible.

The government justifies the preventive review by citing the particular ethical and legal issues raised by the reform. Matignon specifically refers to human dignity and the conditions under which those concerned must make a free and fully informed decision. The review will also determine whether the rules applying to medical staff and the way the procedure is implemented meet constitutional requirements.

The bill provides access to lethal substances under certain conditions. In principle, the person concerned must take them themselves, but if this is physically impossible, a doctor or nursing staff member may administer them. According to the current wording, a minimum reflection period of two days is required between the medical decision and the patient’s reconfirmation of their wishes. This period is one of the disputed issues.

The bill has a long institutional history. It follows Macron’s 2022 campaign pledge, the 2023 citizens’ convention on end-of-life issues, and the first government draft in 2024. However, the procedure had to restart after the dissolution of the National Assembly in June 2024. The current final stage follows several rounds of deliberation and unsuccessful attempts at mediation between the two chambers.

A referral to the Constitutional Council before promulgation is possible under Article 61 of the Constitution. The President, Prime Minister, speakers of both chambers, or 60 members of either the National Assembly or the Senate may request it. The Constitutional Council generally decides within one month, and if a referral is made, the deadline for promulgating the law is suspended. Senate President Gérard Larcher and senators from the right-wing majority have also announced separate legal action.

Politically, Lecornu’s move is therefore less a retreat from a key plan of Macron’s second term than an attempt to ensure its legal implementation. Constitutional review may confirm individual provisions, identify them as problematic, or remove them from the law. Only after the procedure has concluded can the President promulgate the bill. Its actual implementation will then depend on implementing regulations and the organization of the healthcare system.