France, Aug. 11 -- The nine-member body - which rules on whether laws and certain regulations comply with the French Constitution - routinely deals with a heavy workload before the end of August. But several of this year's cases touch on some of the most sensitive political issues of President Emmanuel Macron's second term.

The Constitutional Council is finding itself increasingly drawn into political battles over legislation passed by a fragmented parliament, in which successive governments have struggled to build stable majorities.

Among the most closely observed cases is the law creating a right to assisted dying - a major social reform that has been years in the making and has prompted five separate referrals to the Council.

Oppone...