France to vote on bill to legalize euthanasia tomorrow (June 30)

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

France's National Assembly will once again vote on a bill to legalize euthanasia on June 30 (tomorrow) even though this same bill has been twice overwhelmingly defeated by France's Senate. The June 30th vote will be a Third Reading vote, that if passed will likely lead to the legalization of euthanasia in France.

If the euthanasia bill passes in the National Assembly it will go to the Senate, but if the Senate defeats the bill a third time, the bill would be sent to the National Assembly for a final vote on July 15.

Even though France's Senate continues to defeat the euthanasia bill, the National Assembly can over-ride the vote of the Senate and legalize euthanasia.

On January 21, 2026, France's Senate defeated the euthanasia bill that had passed in the French National Assembly on May 27, 2025.

France's Senate once again defeated the euthanasia bill, on May 11, 2026 by a vote of 151 to 118. The Senate then passed, by a vote of 325 to 18, the part of the bill that improved access to palliative care.

France's government strongly supports the bill and has pressured members of the National Assembly to once again pass the bill. President Emmanuel Macron and the President of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet are both committed to legalizing euthanasia.

France's government is unlikely to extend the euthanasia debate as they lack parliamentary time. France's parliament take an August break and in September the National Assembly will focus on the national budget.

Groups opposing euthanasia have organized rallies across France. We have great hope for a miracle and we remind people that it is not over yet.

We believe in caring for people, not killing them.

Cognitively disabled French man threatened with death by dehydration.

Alex Schadenberg
International Chair - Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

Vincent Lambert with his mother.

The Vincent Lambert case in Reims France may be changing direction after the court appointed Vincent's wife, Rachel Lambert, as his primary guardian.

Vincent Lambert became cognitively disabled in a motorcycle accident injury in 2008. His wife unsuccessfully petitioned the court to have all treatment and care ceased including food and water. Lambert's parents want their son transferred to a rehabilitation center.

Alliance Vita expressed concern in their July 8 press release:

It should be noted that one of the major issues involved in this decision is not only for continuing or discontinuing artificial nutrition and hydration, allowing Vincent Lambert to continue living despite his heavy dependency and his poorly-relating state, it is now also a question of which Medical Center will care for him. Vincent’s parents have requested for him to be admitted to a center specialized for patients in “poorly-relating and neuro-vegetative states”. This would allow Vincent to benefit from physical therapy, occupational therapy and have outdoor access for fresh air that he has been deprived of for years.

To intentionally withdraw fluids from a person who is not otherwise dying is a form of euthanasia by omission because the person directly and intentionally dies from dehydration and not from a medical condition.

Previous articles concerning the Vincent Lambert case.

• French court enables Vincent Lambert to receive food and water.
• Parents of cognitively disabled man appeal death by dehydration order in France.