Wives will be able to refuse to sleep with their husbands, and husbands will have the right to respond in kind – France will abandon the "marital duty" in marriage, reports AFP.
A bill that is likely to receive support from the National Assembly – the lower house of the French Parliament – will establish that "cohabitation does not impose any obligations on spouses regarding sexual relations."
Currently, there is no direct mention of "marital duty" in the legislation, but there is a provision requiring spouses to "jointly lead a family life," which some judges interpret as an obligation to share a bed.
In 2019, the Versailles Court of Appeal sided with a husband seeking a divorce due to his wife's refusal to have sex. The Court of Cassation upheld this decision.
Only in January 2025 did the European Court of Human Rights rule in favor of a French woman, while also highlighting outdated views on family relations in French legislation.
It is expected that after the bill gains support in the National Assembly, it will be sent to the Senate and may be adopted by summer.
