Clémence Guetté, a deputy for La France Insoumise (LFI) and vice-president of the National Assembly, has introduced a bill proposing new legal rights for friends. The proposal, submitted on September 15, seeks to formally recognize friendships within a legal system that has traditionally focused on couples and families. Guetté, who describes her "policy of friendship" as more than just a personal project, argues that friends play a crucial role in society and should be acknowledged in French law. The bill includes a range of measures, such as a "civil baptism" that would legally bind godparents to assist children in need and grant them a role in family decision-making. It also proposes a "social partnership" status, which would allow friends to inherit from one another and enjoy tax benefits on amounts under 100,000 euros. This status would not replace marriage or civil unions but would provide mutual support, including financial assistance and help with debts. Additionally, the bill would allow friends to take leave when welcoming a child, similar to parental leave for couples. Guetté's proposal was supported by the publication of her book Pour une politique de l’amitié (La Découverte) on August 27. In it, she argues that friendships are not sufficiently recognized in the legal system despite their growing social importance, especially with the increasing normalization of single parenthood. She also highlights that family and couple relationships can be sites of injustice, but no legal alternatives are currently recognized. The bill is described as a symbolic step toward building a "New France," a concept promoted by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of LFI, to describe broad social, economic, and cultural changes. As co-president of the La Boétie Institute, Guetté is a key figure in developing LFI's theoretical ideas. She links the friendship policy to LFI's core principles, including republicanism, feminism, internationalism, global humanism, and ecological collectivism. While she acknowledges the current Parliament may not adopt the bill, she notes that its ideas have been included in Mélenchon's 2027 presidential program, indicating their long-term political significance.