French Senate right-wing pushes referendum on end-of-life law, escalating standoff with government

Senator Francis Szpiner (Les Républicains) filed a bill on May 13 to launch a shared initiative referendum (RIP) on the end-of-life law, escalating a months-long standoff with the government one day after the Senate rejected the entire assisted-suicide bill for the second time on May 12.

The RIP procedure, created in 2008, allows parliamentarians, with citizen backing, to submit a subject to a referendum. The first stage requires at least 185 parliamentary signatures — one-fifth of the 925 parliamentarians (577 deputies and 348 senators). Szpiner claimed 201 parliamentary signatures as of May 13. The second stage requires at least 4.8 million signatures from registered voters, representing 10% of the electorate. The first stage has never been completed since the mechanism was created in 2008.

Szpiner's bill aims to enshrine in the public health code "that the active provocation of a patient's death cannot be described as treatment, therapy or care." In the explanatory memorandum, he cites "the constitutional protection of the dignity of the human person." Szpiner argued Monday evening on CNews: "The advantage of a debate is that it allows everyone to reflect, sometimes to change their opinion." He added: "The French do not want death to become an industry."

Opponents of the bill have waged a media campaign. Bruno Retailleau, a presidential contender, called giving the final word to the National Assembly a "passage en force" (strong-arm tactic). He argued on Sud Radio: "Euthanasia always takes precedence over palliative care... because palliative care is very expensive... and a lethal injection is very quick and cheap." A government adviser countered: "It's not true to say this is rushed. There have been hours and hours of debate."

The conservative media sphere, including CNews and JD News, has campaigned against the bill. Causeur columnist Jonathan Siksou called it "an incitement to suicide." Five associations, including Fondation Lejeune, warned in early May: "If the parliamentary calendar tightens, the debate, far from over, intensifies."

The government has not yet decided whether to convene a joint committee (commission mixte paritaire). Given the divergences between the two chambers, such a committee has no chance of reaching a compromise. The government may give the final word to the National Assembly, where the bill enjoys majority support, potentially allowing final adoption before the summer parliamentary recess. Minister Delegate for Autonomy Camille Galliard-Minier said debate will "continue at the National Assembly" so that "the French can benefit from a new right." The RIP procedure does not interrupt the parliamentary examination of the text.