Slovenian voters to decide the fate of assisted dying legislation – Firstpost

Slovenia is set for a decisive vote as citizens return to the polls on Sunday to decide whether to legalize assisted dying, marking a key moment in history after critics launched a campaign against the law.

Legal development and background

In July 2025, the Parliament of Slovenia formally legalized assisted death for mentally competent, terminally ill adults whose suffering has become unbearable and when no viable medical solutions remain.

The law came into force after several European countries, including Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands and Switzerland, allowed terminally ill adults to receive medical assistance in ending their lives following a 2024 referendum in which a majority of Slovenians supported such measures.

Campaign and referendum

Despite initial parliamentary approval and public support, the opposition quickly mobilized. A coalition of civic groups, with a majority from the Catholic Church and conservative parties, collected more than 46,000 signatures, surpassing the threshold needed to trigger a binding referendum on the law.

Critics still argued that the law violated the sanctity of life and risked forcing vulnerable individuals to label it as a crime.

Supporters, including Prime Minister Robert Golob, have advocated for the personal dignity and autonomy that the law will provide for the personal dignity of Slovenians.

The Catholic Church has stated that allowing assisted death is “contrary to the foundations of the Gospel, natural law and human dignity”.

Prime Minister Robert Golob, who voted in advance, has urged citizens to support the law “so that each of us can decide for ourselves how and with what dignity we will end our lives”.

public opinion

Polls recently published by the Dnevnik daily, based on 700 responses, show that approximately one percent of Slovenians currently support the law, 31 percent reject it and 15 are undecided.

Sunday’s referendum will be binding; If the public rejects the legislation, Parliament will be banned from considering similar legislation again for the next 12 months.

While many European countries already allow terminally ill people to seek medical assistance to end their lives, in others it remains a crime even in cases of severe suffering.

Result

The referendum results are expected to be closely watched, with partial results expected late Sunday evening. This will be the long-awaited final outcome of one of medicine’s most profound ethical challenges.