Referendum Slovenians speak out against the legalization of euthanasia
Slovenians voted against the legalization of euthanasia in a referendum on Sunday. Around 53 percent of voters voted against such a law, while 47 percent were in favor.
24.11.2025, 02:20
SDA
This was announced by the electoral commission after almost all votes had been counted. Parliament can now vote again on a law on euthanasia in a year's time at the earliest. The law would allow terminally ill patients of sound mind to commit assisted suicide if their suffering is unbearable and all treatment options have been exhausted. Opponents of assisted suicide supported by the Catholic Church had mobilized against the law and pushed through the referendum.
The head of the NGO that organized the campaign against the law, Ales Primc, said after the vote that "solidarity and justice" had prevailed. In a previous referendum last year, 55 percent of voters had voted in favour of legalizing euthanasia.
According to the law passed by parliament in the summer, patients who have no prospect of improvement in their condition should also be entitled to euthanasia. This should not apply to patients suffering from mental illnesses.
Permitted in Switzerland
Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob had called on citizens to support the law "so that each of us can decide for ourselves how and with what dignity we end our lives".
Opponents of the law had accused the government of using the law to "poison" old and sick people. The Catholic Church argued that the legalization of euthanasia contradicted "the Gospel, the laws of nature and human dignity".
Several European countries, such as Switzerland, Austria, Belgium and the Netherlands, already allow terminally ill patients to make use of euthanasia.
