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An in-depth analysis of the recent legislation and of the related parliamentary debates concerning the end of life in Belgium, France, and Italy allows identification of the political and social reasons that have led to unequal levels of recognition of the right to benefit from assisted dying, be it euthanasia or assisted suicide. Besides the changes in the electoral power balance and the parties’ political strategies, the article highlights some societal elements that have been relatively ignored in this debate, such as the level of social cohesion, pluralism, and the recognition of individual freedoms in each of the countries examined. The article questions as well some clichés that are usually invoked to explain these dynamics, such as the secular nature of the State.