18 March 2021
The Independent reports:
Spanish MPs on Thursday legalised euthanasia and assisted suicide for people with serious and incurable or debilitating diseases who want to end their life, despite facing strong opposition from religious groups and the far-right.
“Today we are a more humane, just and freer country. The euthanasia law, widely demanded by society, finally becomes a reality,” tweeted Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez.
“Thanks to all the people who have fought tirelessly so that the right to die with dignity was recognized in Spain.”
A long round of applause rang out after the lower house of parliament passed the law, with 202 votes in favour, 141 against and with two abstentions.
Until now, helping a person to end their life in Spain was punishable with a jail term of 10 years.
RT reports:
However, outside the building there were reports of protests from religious groups who are against euthanasia.
Supporters of the far-right Vox party were among the demonstrators, while a spokesperson for the party vowed to oppose the law in Spain’s Constitutional Court.
The euthanasia debate in majority-Catholic Spain was reignited in 2019 when Angel Hernandez was arrested in Madrid for administering a lethal injection to his terminally ill wife, Maria Jose Carrasco.
Hernandez filmed himself giving a lethal dose of sodium pentobarbital to Carrasco, who was suffering with multiple sclerosis and had given her consent for the injection.
Spain legalises euthanasia and assisted suicide https://t.co/FRBYFZ1Kpv
— The Independent (@Independent) March 18, 2021
Spanish lawmakers legalize euthanasia and assisted suicide, bringing end to 10-year jail terms — RT World News https://t.co/Ay3CtjcI5Q
— Church and State (@ChurchAndStateN) March 18, 2021
Spanish lawmakers approve bill legalising euthanasia https://t.co/BMgndPGCtj
— Church and State (@ChurchAndStateN) March 18, 2021
Spain’s parliament legalises euthanasia and assisted suicide
Spain legalizes euthanasia
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