National Assembly approves adoption for unmarried couples

Despite opposition from the right, the National Assembly adopted this Friday the flagship measure of a draft law LREM on the adoption of children, which opens this possibility to unmarried couples.

This article 2 authorizing full adoption for PACS or cohabiting couples was voted by show of hands, to applause.

The Secretary of State for Children Adrien Taquet recalled that currently, the only possibility for these unmarried couples is that only one of the two members adopts the child.

"By strengthening the filiation to the two members of the couple, we strengthen the rights of the child (especially in the event of the couple breaking up)," he opposed to the arguments of the right, opposed to this opening measure .

"If only the best interests of the child are paramount, then it is preferable to offer them as many guarantees as possible," said Thibault Bazin (LR), therefore suggesting that it be adopted only for married couples.

His colleague Xavier Breton criticized a “conception” of the majority with regard to adoption “based on the desire of adults”.

“We don't care about modernity”, also argued Emmanuelle Ménard, on the far right, “marriage offers legal certainty that neither PACS nor cohabitation offers.

Adopters have an average age of 41

Another target provision of the right: Article 2 of the bill also provides that adopters must "be able to provide proof of a community of life of at least one year" (against two years today). hui) or “both be over 26 years old” (against 28 years).

"A year of living together to make a decision to adopt, it's a bit light," objected Emmanuelle Ménard.

The Secretary of State underlined that it was about “floors” to be able to apply for approval with a view to adoption, and that the average age of adopters was in fact 41 years.

The rapporteur Monique Limon (LREM) defended the “balanced” position of the bill, also facing amendments from her camp aimed at further lowering the minimum age.

The debate on the filiation of children born by surrogacy (surrogacy) abroad returned briefly in the hemicycle.

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The “walker” Raphaël Gérard lamented that “the intended parent must resort to adoption”, and asked “not to discriminate against children according to their mode of conception”.

Aurélien Taquet replied to this deputy and to the former LREM Guillaume Chiche, also at the forefront, that they did not have "an appointment" to reopen this debate, already settled in the context of the examination of the draft. bioethics law.