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last mo.

French Senate Votes on Split End-of-Life Bills as Debate Moves Back to the Assembly

Deputies will revisit the issue in mid-February after senators gutted the aid-to-die proposal.

Lors de l’examen de la proposition de loi sur l’aide à mourir, au Sénat, le mardi 20 janvier 2026.
La ministre de la santé, Stéphanie Rist, lors de l’examen en séance des textes de loi sur la fin de vie, au Sénat, à Paris, le 20 janvier 2026.
Seule la moitié des besoins en soins palliatifs sont couverts chaque année, selon un rapport de deux sénatrices. Le Sénat se penchera sur le développement de ces soins lundi 26 janvier 2026.
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Overview

  • Senators are holding a solemn vote at 4:30 p.m. on two texts: a broadly supported palliative-care bill and a heavily rewritten aid-to-die measure.
  • The assisted-dying proposal was emptied of its core provisions by a conservative-led majority, with critics warning it could conflict with the existing Claeys-Léonetti framework.
  • If the aid-to-die text is rejected, the National Assembly resumes from its earlier version on 16 February; if adopted, deputies are expected to revert to their compromise.
  • The palliative-care bill drops an ‘opposable’ right and a multi-year programming law in favor of a national strategy, and it establishes new accompaniment and palliative-care houses between home and hospital.
  • Financing remains uncertain, with €100 million ringfenced for 2026 as senators question long-term resources despite non-binding targets to increase funding.