Senate of France blocks euthanasia bill

The Senate of France. Photo: Deposit photos

On January 21, 2026, the French Senate rejected by majority vote an article of the euthanasia bill that established conditions for its implementation, thereby making further adoption of the law impossible, reports Tribune Сhretienne.

144 senators voted against the key article, while 123 voted in favor. The provision in question defined the medical and legal criteria for access to euthanasia and assisted suicide. After its rejection, the bill was left without an implementation mechanism.

The chairman of the Senate's Social Affairs Committee, Philippe Mouiller entire text was now meaningless, while indicating that the debates would continue until the formal vote scheduled for January 28, in accordance with the parliamentary calendar.

The vote revealed deep disagreements in the Upper House. A large segment of the right and center-right senators opposes, on principle, any legalization of euthanasia and assisted suicide, believing that such a development would constitute a major ethical breach. Socialists also voted against, stating that the Senate version was too restrictive compared to the text previously adopted by the National Assembly.

Socialist faction president Patrick Kanner called the proceedings "a dismal evening for the Senate", accusing the majority of rendering the text ineffective and discrediting the Upper House on a subject of vital importance to the French people. Despite this, the government and President Emmanuel Macron have not abandoned the initiative yet.

Earlier, the UOJ reported that Slovenians rejected a law on euthanasia legalization in a referendum.

Read also