RN MP Jacobelli weighs in on Le Pen, assisted dying and heatwave

Paris – 16 July 2026: Laurent Jacobelli, an MP for the Rassemblement National from the Moselle department, was a guest on the programme “8h30 franceinfo” on Thursday morning. The interview brought together three particularly topical political issues: Marine Le Pen’s role with regard to the 2027 presidential election, the new assisted-dying legislation passed by Parliament the previous day, and the effects of the ongoing exceptional heat in France.

The presence of an RN spokesperson in this debate comes at a time when Marine Le Pen is preparing her political return. Her personal and legal situation remains crucial to the strategy of the Rassemblement National. Within the party, the focus is therefore not only on the question of the candidate, but also on the relationship between Le Pen and party chairman Jordan Bardella. Both represent distinct but closely interconnected centres of power within the RN.

The immediate trigger for the discussion on end-of-life issues was the final adoption by the National Assembly on Wednesday, 15 July, of the law establishing a right to assistance in dying. After several readings, MPs passed the text by 291 votes to 241. In parallel, a law on palliative care and support was adopted. The reform marks a far-reaching change to French health and ethics law.

The new framework is intended to give seriously and incurably ill adults access to assistance in dying under precisely defined conditions. It combines an individual decision with medical assessment, a waiting period and the possibility of withdrawing the request at any time. The separation between expanded palliative care and assistance in dying was a deliberate political choice, but it could not resolve the fundamental conflict over self-determination, vulnerability and medical responsibility.

For the RN, the issue is also strategically significant. The party is seeking to present itself, beyond its traditional areas of migration, security and purchasing power, as a political force capable of independently addressing social and bioethical questions. Assisted dying, however, requires clear positions, because it prompts matters of conscience across party lines and can only be limitedly arranged along the usual left-right divide.

The heatwave forms the third backdrop to the interview. Since mid-June, France has experienced an exceptionally long and intense spell of high temperatures. Health authorities reported significant strain during the preceding periods of heat, particularly on older people, those with chronic illnesses and outdoor workers. Météo-France weather warnings serve not only as general information, but also trigger graduated precautionary and protective measures by the authorities.

The interview therefore touches on a core political question of the summer of 2026: how can France combine the protection of particularly vulnerable people with long-term preparation for climate risks? The debate ranges from cooling public buildings and working conditions to equipping care facilities. For the RN, it offers an opportunity to criticise government preparedness and infrastructure policy. At the same time, it increases pressure on all parties to present concrete adaptation measures rather than broad declarations on climate.