France’s Constitutional Council on Friday upheld the country’s landmark assisted dying law while striking down a separate provision that would have banned social media for children under 15, delivering a split ruling on two of President Emmanuel Macron’s signature reforms.
The constitutional authority approved the legislation establishing a right to assisted dying for adults suffering from incurable conditions, paving the way for France to join the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada in legalising the practice. But in a major setback for Macron, the court found the social media ban “constitutes an infringement that is neither appropriate, necessary, nor proportionate” to the freedom of expression and communication of those under 15.
Assisted Dying Law Gets Green Light
The Constitutional Council’s approval completes an unusually turbulent legislative path for the assisted dying bill. France’s National Assembly passed the text four times, most recently in July by a vote of 291 to 241, while the Senate rejected it three times. The government ultimately bypassed the upper house using a constitutional mechanism allowing the lower chamber to have the final say.
Under the law, eligible patients must be of legal age, a French national or long-term resident, and suffering from pain that is unresponsive to treatment or unbearable in their view. The patient will generally administer a lethal substance themselves, with healthcare workers allowed to assist those physically unable to do so.
The ruling “completes an exemplary democratic debate”, the Elysee Palace said, adding that the legislation “provides an essential safeguard for our fellow citizens”.
The Council also clarified the conscience clause, ruling it must apply to private healthcare facilities where assisted dying is “manifestly contrary” to their mission, provided they are not the only establishments able to meet local needs. This meets a key demand from Catholic healthcare institutions.
Social Media Ban Vetoed
Macron’s plan to bar children under 15 from social media platforms such as TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram was due to take effect on September 1. The Constitutional Council also raised concerns about the privacy implications of the age-verification system that would have been required for all users.
The Elysee said Macron had tasked Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu with working on a new “legally robust draft” of the social media legislation as quickly as possible. Macron’s determination to see the reform implemented “remained undiminished”, the presidency said.
Gabriel Attal, Macron’s former prime minister who backed the social media ban, called it “a deadly poison for our children” and vowed to continue fighting for restrictions. A growing number of countries are taking steps to limit children’s social media access amid warnings over its harmful effects.
Sources: France24/AFP; Al Jazeera; Reuters; Euronews
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