Veneto Approves Assisted-Dying Law, Becoming First Center-Right Region to Do So

Veneto has become the first center-right-led region in Italy to define procedures and timelines for assisted suicide. After two days of debate, its regional council approved the “Liberi subito” popular initiative by 32 votes to 14, with four abstentions.

The proposal emerged from a campaign by the Luca Coscioni Association, which collected 9,000 signatures. The council had previously rejected it in January 2024 by a single vote. The approved law makes Veneto the fourth Italian region to adopt legislation on the issue.

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Nothing is more important than the dignity of human life, which must always be protected by every necessary means.

The final outcome depended on amendments introduced and voted on during the afternoon, including 10 signed by regional president Alberto Stefani. “Nothing is more important than the dignity of human life, which must always be protected by every necessary means,” Stefani said. He said the amendments substantially changed the popular initiative’s text in favor of protecting life.

The debate lasted more than 10 hours. Luca Zaia, president of the regional council and a longtime supporter of the law, called it a deep and complex discussion that engaged consciences before political affiliations. He described the vote as an act of responsibility and said it gave a concrete response to people experiencing extreme suffering.

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Deep and complex discussion

The governing majority split. All nine Brothers of Italy councillors voted against the measure, while Forza Italia allowed a conscience vote, producing two abstentions and one vote in favor. Two governing League councillors also opposed it, along with two Resistere Veneto councillors and League-aligned councillor Stefano Valdegamberi. The sole UDC councillor abstained. Democratic Party councillor Anna Maria Bigon voted in favor after her abstention had helped determine the proposal’s rejection two years earlier.

The amendments provide for a stronger opinion from a palliative-care specialist, a regional bioethics committee appointed by the government, priority access to palliative care for patients who request it and a duty to properly inform patients who seek assisted suicide.

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Represents an important result and an act of responsibility by the regional council. Today, the Veneto ‘Parliament’ chose not to look the other way and to give a concrete response to people experiencing extreme suffering.