Slovenia holds new referendum on assisted dying law

Sunday 23 November 2025 - 07:00

By: Sahili Aya

Slovenia holds new referendum on assisted dying law

Slovenian citizens will once again head to the polls on Sunday to decide whether a recently approved law on assisted dying should take effect or be suspended. The referendum was requested by a civic group backed by the Catholic Church and conservative opposition parties, who oppose the legislation adopted by Parliament in July 2025.

Slovenia had been expected to join several European countries—such as Switzerland and Austria—that allow medically assisted suicide for terminally ill patients. However, opponents gathered the 40,000 signatures required to block the law’s implementation and force a second vote. Critics claim the measure could put vulnerable elderly and sick individuals at risk.

The law stems from a first referendum held in 2024, when 55% of voters supported assisted suicide. Under the legislation, mentally competent patients suffering from incurable illnesses and unbearable conditions would have the right to end their lives with medical assistance. Cases involving mental illness are excluded, and the law does not legalize euthanasia, in which a healthcare provider directly administers a life-ending substance.

Prime Minister Robert Golob has urged voters to support the measure, arguing that individuals should be free to decide how to manage their final moments with dignity. The Catholic Church, for its part, denounces the law as contrary to human dignity and Christian teachings.

Polling stations will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with 1.7 million citizens eligible to vote. To suspend the law, at least 20% of the electorate must vote “no.” Even in that case, the issue would not disappear entirely, as Parliament would be allowed to reconsider a revised bill after a one-year interval.

A recent survey conducted by the daily Dnevnik among 700 respondents shows that 54.3% of voters remain in favor of legalizing assisted dying, while 30.6% are opposed and 15% remain undecided. In Europe, euthanasia is authorized in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, while France is currently debating its own end-of-life legislation and may also resort to a referendum if parliamentary negotiations stall.