An initiative aimed at the 174 parliamentarians of the late Nupes. On April 9, around twenty deputies responded to the invitation of a handful of socialist, PCF or green elected officials, skeptical, even openly opposed to the bill on the end of life. “We want to move away from the obvious fact that the legalization of assisted dying is left-wing,” explains one of the organizers, Pierre Dharréville, a communist elected official from Bouches-du-Rhône, who denounces an “ethical shift” in the law. In the audience, some came out of curiosity. Others to express their doubts, and draw on the reflections of the four speakers from civil society. Among them, psychologist Sara Piazza, co-author of the book Euthanasia: social progress? and opposed to this new right, remembers difficult discussions: “It seemed complicated to me to convey the collective risk implied by such legalization.” The organizers are lucid: “It’s clear that we are in the minority,” whispers the socialist Murthe-et-Mosellan and co-inviter Dominique Potier.
On both sides of the hemicycle, there are dozens of them swimming against the tide of their own political family. The bill on the end of life, with its section on the legalization of assisted suicide and euthanasia, sometimes transcends divisions, reminding each elected official of their personal, professional, even spiritual experiences. For once, political groups have promised their members the freedom to vote. The Minister of Health, Catherine Vautrin, also called on the deputies to discuss “in a spirit of humanity, listening and respect”, while the work of the special committee on health began on April 22. Assembly dedicated to its examination.
Even within the majority, some parliamentarians are openly opposed to this government text. Former consultant in the forensic sector Caroline Janvier is one of them. “I am afraid that this legalization will be perceived by patients as an injunction to shorten their lives when the latter would be collectively considered unworthy,” worries the elected official from Loiret, who is nevertheless delighted with the atmosphere around of this bill, “conducive to respecting everyone’s points of view”. Some, on the Macronist benches, fear “opening Pandora’s box”. This is the case of Charles Rodwell, MP for Yvelines, who very early on on social networks spoke out against the bill. “I don’t see how we would avoid widening the scope of application,” he told L’Express, keen not to copy the Belgian example, where “the legislator perhaps did not imagine that “he would legalize euthanasia for minors”.
“An act of love and dignity”
“But when 90% of French people are for euthanasia, we have to ask ourselves the right questions!” retorts Les Républicains MP Frédérique Meunier, who still pleads for “the establishment of safeguards”. Contrary to her parliamentary group, the elected official from Corrèze claims to have changed her mind on the subject “as rarely” in the last two years. Diligent participation in the transpartisan end-of-life working group and multiple hearings with doctors, surgeons and philosophers have contributed to its evolution.
“I have come to consider this assistance in dying as an act of love and dignity,” she explains, annoyed by “the hypocrisy of part of the medical profession”. “With deep and continuous sedation until death [NDLR : instaurée par la loi Claeys-Leonetti en 2016], the doctor certainly does not cause death, but does everything to cause it”, breathes the elected official. She still managed to join, alongside seven other LRs, the special commission on the end of life, as as secretary. “I’m the ugly duckling of the party,” she quips. But there is real respect: I am neither briefed nor rejected by my people.”
No briefing on the RN side either, even if Marine Le Pen said she was opposed to euthanasia. The far-right party is no exception to the trend, and the leadership of the parliamentary group has a small handful of elected officials favorable to the principle. That the boss of the deputies hopes to “convince” by then… Did you say freedom of vote?
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