French Lawmakers Pass Euthanasia Bill After Senate Rejects Earlier Version

MOSCOW, Feb 26 (Bernama-Sputnik/RIA Novosti) -- The lower house of the French parliament passed a bill on end-of-life assistance on Wednesday, about eight months after the Senate sent it back for reexamination, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti.

The motion was passed in a 299-226 vote, National Assembly Speaker Yael Braun-Pivet announced during the televised session. President Emmanuel Macron welcomed the passing.

The draft law will now send the bill back to the Senate for reconsideration.

The bill was backed by the majority of lawmakers from left-wing parties, as well as the majority of lawmakers from Macron's centrist Renaissance party.

Right-wing lawmakers from the National Rally and Union for the Republic mostly voted against.

Support for assisted suicide has declined in parliament over the past year.

In May, 305 lawmakers voted in favour of allowing access to euthanasia, while 199 voted against, the Figaro newspaper has reported.

Along with the bill on assisted dying, the assembly passed a bill on the right to maximum access to palliative care for people suffering from incurable diseases, with 491 votes in favour and no votes against.

--BERNAMA-SPUTNIK/RIA NOVOSTI