A civilisation that legalises mercy killing loses all its right to respect, the writer says, and then bolsters his opinion with several arguments. The issue has come into focus as the legalisation of euthanasia is currently being discussed in parliament. The politician who submitted the bill says there is much manoeuvring involved, so as to avoid having to vote on the draft, and the government has provided an evasive answer to the question.

The issue of legalising active euthanasia has once again become the focus of political debates in France, prompting renowned French writer Michel Houellebecq to articulate his opinion on the subject. An article published by the French daily Le Figaro reveals that the Goncourt Prize-winning French writer, film director and poet believes that a civilisation which legalises euthanasia is unworthy of respect. Houellebecq fiercely opposes the idea of a merciful death and bolsters his position with arguments. 

First, he points out that no one wants to die and people generally tend to prefer a lower-quality life to no life at all, because there are still little joys and life itself is a process of passing away. Secondly, he says no one wants to suffer. Moral suffering has its charms, but physical suffering is hell with no lessons to be drawn from it. Thirdly, Houellebecq argues that the elimination of physical suffering does not necessarily require euthanasia, for example, morphine is an option to relieve pain. 

According to Houellebecq, those who speak about compassion and dignity in connection with euthanasia are liars and hypocrites, because the concept has departed from Kant s idea of dignity by replacing the moral being with the physical being, while denying the idea of the moral being.

The writer rejects the reasoning of those who argue that France is lagging behind other countries in terms of euthanasia, pointing out that mercy killing is, in fact, only legal in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. 

In connection with fighting against euthanasia, he argues that it is not only a struggle for saving the dignity of civilisation, but it is also an issue relevant to life and death in the anthropological sense. Houellebecq contends that when a country, a society, or a civilization legalises euthanasia, it loses all respect in his eyes, while he welcomes the courage of doctors who oppose assisted suicide and refuse to end a person s life.

The issue has become topical again because the lower house of the French parliament discussed the issue of active euthanasia on Thursday. Although many MPs support the bill, it was ultimately not passed on for voting, because more than 3,000 amendments were tabled and the house could not discuss all of them individually.

The bill was proposed by left-wing politician Olivier Farloni, who announced on Twitter that the parliamentary session was suspended at midnight, abeit temporary, in his view. Farloni called on the government to put the bill on the agenda again so that it can eventually be passed, which he says is in the interest of all French people.

According to press reports, however, the government would benefit from parliament being unable to adopt active euthanasia, as the cabinet is likely reluctant to address such a delicate and divisive issue in view of the upcoming elections.

Health Minister Olivier Veran s statement also seems to point in this direction. He said the government was aware of the importance of the issue, but added that it cannot be taken lightly and requires more serious debate with the involvement of society and the Consultative Ethics Committee. When asked by the press whether the issue will be laid on the table in the coming months, the prime minister s office gave an evasive answer. According to Hotel Matignon (the French PM s residence), President Emmanuel Macron has not made such a promise, the 20 minutes news portal writes. Moreover, Firday s parliamentary agenda is full with debates already under way enjoying a clear priority.

Earlier, Olivier Farloni told a television show that the bill respects the patient s wishes, adding that there is tremendous hypocrisy in France, as many French citizens are forced to travel abroad to end their lives through assisted euthanasia. Back then, the politician stated that the thousands of submitted petitions demanding an amendment were nothing more than tactics to block the voting procedure and the adoption of the law.