Slovenia voters reject law on assisted dying for terminally ill adults in recent referendum.
In a significant turn of events, Slovenia’s voters have recently rejected a proposed law that would have permitted terminally ill individuals to choose assisted dying, reflecting the ongoing global debate around end-of-life rights. This decision, prompted by a robust campaign from conservative groups, underscores the complexities surrounding such legislation, as well as the varied cultural attitudes toward life and death across different societies. As discussions about personal autonomy and dignity continue worldwide, Slovenia’s outcome may influence similar dialogues in European countries grappling with the ethics of assisted dying.
In a recent referendum, Slovenians voted against a law that would have allowed terminally ill adults the right to choose assisted dying, following a coordinated campaign from its critics. According to preliminary results released by election authorities, approximately 53 percent of 1.7 million eligible voters opposed the proposed legislation, effectively suspending its implementation for at least one year.
The controversial law was initially approved by Slovenia’s parliament in July, with the intention of providing terminally ill patients the option to end their lives if their suffering became unbearable after exhausting all treatment possibilities. However, a civil group, supported by the Catholic Church and conservative opposition, successfully gathered over 40,000 signatures to request a repeat vote, leading to the recent referendum.
Ales Primc, who heads the NGO Voice for the Children and the Family and led the no vote campaign, hailed the results as a triumph for “solidarity and justice.” “We are witnessing a miracle. The culture of life has defeated the cult of death,” he declared after the results were announced.
The proposed law would have permitted assisted dying in scenarios where the suffering was unbearable and there was no reasonable prospect of recovery, although it did not include mental health conditions in its provisions. Prime Minister Robert Golob had previously advocated for the law, appealing to citizens to support it to ensure that individuals could choose how they wish to end their lives with dignity.
The Catholic Church opposed the law, arguing that it contradicted fundamental gospel principles, natural law, and human dignity. Previously, in June 2024, a similar law had garnered support from 55 percent of voters. Turnout for the recent referendum was reported at 40.9 percent, just meeting the threshold necessary for the no vote to be valid.
While several European nations, including Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland, have legalized assisted dying for terminally ill individuals, it remains a criminal offense in many other regions, even amid severe suffering. In light of this, France’s lower house of parliament has recently approved a right-to-die bill in a preliminary reading, and the British parliament is also deliberating legislation on this sensitive issue.
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