By: C. R.
Voters in today’s referendum rejected the law on assisted voluntary dying. 53.07 percent voted against the law, and opponents also succeeded in reaching the rejection quorum, according to partial unofficial results after most ballots were counted.
In today’s referendum, 46.93 percent of voters supported the law on assisted voluntary dying, while 53.07 percent opposed it. A law is rejected in a referendum if a majority votes against it, provided that at least one‑fifth of all eligible voters cast a ‘no’ vote. Based on the latest voter data, at least 339,205 votes against were required; according to partial unofficial results after 95 percent of ballots were counted, 346,815 voters opposed the law. Turnout was 40.31 percent of eligible voters.
Aleš Primc, the initiator of the referendum, declared in a written statement that compassion, justice, and solidarity had triumphed. Slovenia, he said, chose life and “rejected the government’s health, pension, and social reform, which was based on death by poisoning.”
He added that the culture of life had defeated the culture of death: “With victory in the referendum, all of us, especially patients, the disabled, and pensioners, can enjoy a peaceful Advent and Christmas season.” Primc thanked everyone who contributed to what he described as life’s victory in Slovenia.
In its first reaction, the SDS party also stated that life had won. Voters showed “that life is sacred and untouchable,” said MP Alenka Jeraj, adding that their votes stopped “one of the most dangerous projects of this government.” Party vice‑president Aleš Hojs called for Prime Minister Robert Golob’s resignation.
“We said no to a law that would normalise assisted suicide, no to dismantling the ethical foundations on which our civilisation rests, no to attempts to erase the sanctity of human life from our society. Today we made it clear to Robert Golob’s government that we are a nation that respects our parents and does not see them as a burden or think it unfortunate that they are still alive,” Jeraj told the media once it was clear the law had been rejected. She added: “A nation that values life will never be defeated.” But she warned: “This battle did not end today; it is only the beginning.” She said the government must now ensure palliative care for all.
Hojs argued that the referendum will also have political consequences: “With such high turnout, this result is certainly a major vote of no confidence in the current coalition.” He said he expected the prime minister to resign the next day.
In his view, it is increasingly clear that SDS can count on a constitutional majority of reason, “the majority we will undoubtedly need in the next mandate to overturn not only this law but all the absurdities that Golob’s government has imposed over four years.”
