The initial steps in consecrating a right to die in France began with the Leonetti Law of 2005 which recognized a patient's right to refuse life-prolonging care, which was followed by the 2016 Claeys-Leonetti law which essentially enshrined the dirty little secret of terminal sedation, which allowed doctors to sedate their terminally ill patients into a "deep and continuous coma until death." But the question of euthanasia and self administration was left unanswered.

It was President Macron who took the initial step in 2022, as he had promised during his campaign, by forming a deliberative citizens' assembly comprised of 184 randomly selected participants with quotas set to match France's demographics by age, sex, geography, political diversity, occupation and education.  Meeting over 9 weekends between Dec 1022 and April 2023, 75% responded in favor of permitting active assistance in dying subject to strict conditions.  The report favored both self-administration and physician assisted administration in cases where the patient is otherwise incapable.

French President Macron who fulfilled a 2022 campaign process by getting the legislative ball rolling in calling for a deliberative assembly by ordinary citizens... and then chose to respect their views.

This is not to say that there were not earlier legislative efforts to amplify France's law on palliative care and a law allowing the doctor to engage in palliative sedation.  In October 2017, Deputy Olivier Falorni first introduce a bill to allow euthanasia and self administration

The bill's champion and driving force, Olivier Farloni, Mayor of La Rochelle, serving in the National Assembly from 2012 to April 2026, once he became mayor.  Once a bill was introduced in the National Assembly by the Macron government, he led the way in steering the bill through discussions.

The Parliament was dissolved in 2024 to allow for new elections, and it was Farloni who took the initiative to reintroduce the legislation himself as a private member's bill, serving as the rapporteur (essentially the member responsible for guiding the bill to a successful vote).

The bill was not without its opposition, notably the conservative right wing parliamentarians and the Catholic Church.  Nevertheless, the bill did pass several times, each time being voted down by the conservative Senate, led by its President, most recently on Jan 22, 2026

Senate President and Assisted Dying opponent, Gerard Larcher.  A member of the conservative Les Republicains party, a former veterinarian, and President of the Senate since 2014 and earlier from 2008 to 2011.

However, the Senate has only 3 bites as the apple, after which the National Assembly's will carries the day.  And thus on July 15, 2026, a date which surely will be remembered in France (and all of western Europe) as the day the government acceded to the will of the people to allow those wishing to die with dignity, abbreviating unnecessary suffering, and hastening the unfortunate and regretted end, to have a reason for hope.  The final vote of 291 Yes, 241 No and 29 Present.

One can see that the majority of Yes votes came from the left wing parties, with almost unanimous opposition from the right wing parties of which Rassemblement National led by Marine Le Pen is most numerous.  Even a threat from a Catholic Bishop that legislators voting in favor would be denied communion didn't have its desired effect.

Vive la France!!