It is a change of foot, or rather an evolution, to say the least astonishing.
On the sidelines of the discussion of a bill for
“a free and chosen end of life”
this weekend in the National Assembly, Jean-Marie Le Pen confided to
Figaro: “I partly admit euthanasia.
"
The founder of the National Front - now the National Rally
-
recalls that there are
" in certain cases diseases which are irreversible and which cause incredible suffering.
I believe that in these cases the person should have the right to his life
.
It is a responsibility that she takes with regard to her religious or other convictions
,
”
he defends.
To read also: Jean-Marie Le Pen: confidences at the hour of twilight
The former deputy for Paris, now 92 years old, admits not having looked into the exact letter of the law currently under discussion before the national representation.
And cannot say if, as a parliamentarian, he would have voted for it as it stands.
He sees no obstacle
“if the text is careful and limits the conditions of consent of the person to his own disappearance.
"
The five-time presidential candidate says he is in total disagreement with the writer Michel Houellebecq who, in a column published in Le Figaro on Monday, assured that
" a civilization which legalizes euthanasia loses all rights to respect.
"To say that is too easy
," retorts the old nationalist leader.
It is a difficult problem.
People who have not seen suffering or who have not themselves suffered great physical suffering ignore these things.
"
To read also: Jean-Marie Le Pen, unexpected support of the PMA
In an interview with the weekly
Christian Family
in 2007, during his last presidential campaign, the candidate assured:
“Morally and philosophically, I am in favor of respect for life from start to finish.
But as a responsible politician, I ask myself the question of euthanasia.
I don't have a definitive position for the moment. ”
The man of Catholic faith questions today that
“on this subject, we would have more scruples than the submachine gun bullets which enter the stomachs of young people in military conflicts.
There we allow ourselves everything, basically, we consider that death is commonplace.
"
Asked by the Association of Parliamentary Journalists on Wednesday, the president of the National Rally and presidential candidate, Marine Le Pen, assured that she did not want to vote in favor of the text, or even attend the discussions.
"It is indecent to debate the end of life at a time when so many French people are fighting not to die from Covid
", she defended.