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“It is an insult”. This was the most heated phrase in this Thursday’s debate on the resolution of a referendum on the decriminalization of assisted death. And the socialist deputy Pedro Bacelar Vasconcelos did it on the question that the petitioners of the popular initiative, which was born among the Catholic movements, wanted to see supported.
With it, the also constitutionalist rejected the question: “Do you agree that killing another person at your request or helping them commit suicide should continue to be punishable by criminal law in any circumstance?” – but also the popular consultation, which is doomed to failure, despite the petition having been signed by some 100,000 people.
Supporting the position of Pedro Bacelar Vasconcelos were the PS, BE, PCP, Verdes and part of the PSD. Rui Rio’s party, which gives its deputies freedom to vote on this matter, also gave freedom of voice. Two Social Democratic deputies with different positions took the podium, one to defend the referendum, the other to attack it
“Do you agree that killing another person at your request or assisting him to commit suicide should remain punishable under criminal law under any circumstances?”
Deputy Mónica Quintela, a lawyer, defended the legitimacy of Parliament to legislate in this regard and the idea that “rights, freedoms and guarantees are not endorsable.” The question that was wanted to propose for a referendum, he said, is elaborated in a way “capable of inducing an answer.” That is, a “no”. “It was very serious to take responsibility from the Assembly of the Republic,” said the deputy.
On the contrary, PSD deputy Paulo Moniz recalled that the decriminalization of assisted death was not part of the electoral program of most parties, with the exception of IL and PAN. “Democracy is very bad when a matter of this nature is closed in the Assembly of the Republic, when society gave signs that it wanted to speak.” He asked the question: “Is there any fear of this happening? Fear of the outcome?” Even so, he called for a popular consultation to be held, the question being asked “clearly and not subject to interpretation.”
“Democracy is very bad where a matter of this nature is closed in the Assembly of the Republic, when society gave signs that it wanted to speak”
From the socialist bench, in addition to Pedro Bacelar Vasconcelos, Isabel Moreira spoke to attack the petitioners: ´ “It is a tactic to paralyze Parliament.” He continued to defend that what is at stake in the decriminalization of assisted death – five bills were approved in general, from the PS, BE, PAN, IL and Greens – is an “ineligible election” for the sick. “We must not renounce the duty to legislate on an issue that is not simple.”
João Cotrim Figueiredo, leader of the Liberal Initiative, who presented one of the projects to decriminalize assisted death, came to recognize that “there is a desire for citizen participation of citizens” and that the law is “solid and without loopholes”, he supported the holding of a referendum.
Once again in the opposite direction, Bebiana Cunha, from the PAN, another party with legislative initiative on the matter, came to reject the possibility of popular initiative. Like José Manuel Pureza, from the Bloco de Esquerda, who tried to explore the contradictions of the petitioners, whose most visible face is that of the former centrist deputy Isilda Pegado, who was also one of the most active promoters against the decriminalization of abortion. “The prosecutors are in principle against the referendum they propose, but they say that it is a resource, an expedient, with the sole purpose of blocking the passage to Parliament.”
Dos Verdes, through the voice of deputy José Luís Ferreira, came the same verdict of a “no” return to the referendum. “The sole purpose of the petition is to interrupt or even impede the legislative process.” From the PCP, which is against the decriminalization of assisted death, Congressman António Filipe also defended the “no” to the referendum.
“The prosecutors are in principle against the referendum they propose, but they say that it is a resource, a file, with the sole purpose of blocking the passage to Parliament”
Clear and unreserved support for the popular consultation came from the CDS bank. Telmo Correia once again remembered the almost 100,000 citizens who signed the petition in favor of the referendum in a few weeks, to reject “the contempt” with which it was faced in Parliament. “This is a choice between pride and humility,” he insisted on the arguments that the word on this delicate matter should be given directly to the people.
Chega, who is also against euthanasia, did not have a voice to defend the referendum, although he supports it, because André Ventura is on an electoral campaign in the Azores for the regional elections to be held on Sunday.
“This is a choice between arrogance and humility”
When the resolution goes to a vote on Friday, the united left – PS, BE, PCP, PEV and PAN – will vote against. Not to mention the alleged vote against also by the two unregistered deputies, Joacine Katar Moreira (former Livre) and Cristina Rodrigues (former).
On the right, there is only certainty of the votes in favor of the CDS (five deputies) and the sole deputy of Chega and the deputy of the Liberal Initiative, João Cotrim de Figueiredo. In the PSD there is freedom to vote, a decision taken last Monday at a meeting of the party’s National Political Commission. In the vote for most decriminalizing assisted death diplomas, this had happened.
