“The challenge is really to have a diversity of points of view that are heard and a diversity of profiles that are brought together”, explains Tuesday, October 25 on franceinfo Claire Thoury, president of the Governance Committee of the Citizen’s Convention on the end of life, and member of the Cese (Economic, Social and Environmental Council). The 150 citizens who will participate in this Convention will be drawn according to “basic criteria: age, sex, demographic origin, level of diploma, socio-professional category. The objective is to have a mini France that will come together” from December 9 to March 17 for “to contribute to the national debate”, with a view to a possible change in legislation, specifies Claire Thoury.
franceinfo: What is the profile of the citizens who will be drawn?
Claire Thoury: It is a drawing of lots panelized from several criteria: age, sex, demographic origin, type of urban area, level of diploma, socio-professional category. The objective is to have a mini France that will come together for 27 days to try to answer this question: Is the end-of-life support framework adapted to the different situations encountered or possible changes? should they be introduced? The objective is also to cross a diversity of profiles which will allow us to ensure a richness in the deliberations, a diversity of points of view heard to debate in a peaceful, serene way.
“There are no criteria that are neither excluding nor favorable. We have chosen not to exclude caregivers, people who have recently been confronted with an end-of-life situation or activists. We are as open as possible.
Claire Thoury, President of the Governance Committee of the Citizens’ Convention on the End of Lifeat franceinfo
We will not ask people if they have been faced with an end-of-life situation. The challenge is really to have a diversity of points of view that are heard and a diversity of profiles that are brought together.
What is the long-term objective of this Citizens’ Convention?
The objective is for the government to commit to something very clear. We were a little afraid of the “without filter” after the previous Climate Convention. We wanted a very clearly stated accountability framework: that means that we explain to citizens why they are there and what we are committing to in exchange for the time they give to work. This is what the Prime Minister did in her letter. Elisabeth Borne clearly states that the ministers in charge of the subject will come and explain to citizens which proposals have been accepted and above all why. It is a national debate that goes beyond the Citizens’ Convention since stakeholder conventions are organized elsewhere and then there will probably be a debate in the National Assembly. What we organize is the citizen’s contribution to this national debate on the end of life.
Emmanuel Macron does not rule out a referendum on the issue. In this case, what is the role of this Citizens’ Convention?
It’s something that will happen later, in another time. It remains a concern for us, but the challenge is that there is a fairly broad debate throughout French society. If there is a referendum, it will at least have been enlightened by this national debate which will cross French society. The referendum is a hypothesis. We are working to contribute to the national debate, we are not working with just that in mind, but to contribute to the national debate that is about to open.