Slovenia Rejects Assisted Dying Law in Referendum: New Vote Suspended for a Year Amidst Public Backlash

Slovenia Rejects Assisted Dying Law in National Referendum

Slovenian citizens have delivered a decisive blow to proposed legislation that would have legalized assisted dying, voting to suspend the new law in a recent national referendum. The outcome marks a significant victory for critics who had campaigned vigorously against the measure.

The Referendum's Verdict

Approximately 53 percent of voters cast their ballots against the law, while 47 percent supported its implementation. This majority rejection means the legislation, which had previously been approved by Slovenia's parliament in July, will now be suspended for a minimum of one year. Crucially, the parliamentary body is now barred from revisiting a bill on the same issue for the next 12 months.

A New Vote Forced by Public Opposition

This latest referendum was initiated by a civil group, which garnered substantial backing from the Catholic Church and the conservative parliamentary opposition. This coalition successfully collected 46,000 signatures, exceeding the 40,000 required to force a new public vote on a topic that had already seen a 2024 referendum supporting the measure.

Advocates Celebrate "Solidarity and Justice"

Ales Primc, who heads Voice for the Children and the Family, the NGO instrumental in orchestrating the 'no' campaign, welcomed the results. He declared the outcome as a triumph of "solidarity and justice," reflecting the sentiment of those who opposed the assisted dying law.