The President of the Republic today promulgated the decree that decriminalizes medically assisted death, as required by the Constitution, after being confirmed by parliament on Friday, following its political veto.
Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa announced this decision through a short note published on the official website of the Presidency of the Republic on the Internet.
«The Assembly of the Republic confirmed on the 12th of May, by an absolute majority of the deputies in office, the new version of the diploma on medically assisted death, for which reason the President of the Republic promulgated Decree n.º 43/XV, of the Assembly of the Republic, as required under article 136, paragraph 2 of the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic", reads the note.
The decree, which the head of state had vetoed on April 29, was confirmed on Friday, and went that same day to the Belém Palace for promulgation.
It had 129 votes in favor, from the majority of PS deputies, from the Liberal Initiative and Left Bloc benches and from the single PAN and Livre deputies, 81 votes against, from the majority of PSD deputies and the Enough and PCP benches , and there was a social-democratic deputy who abstained.
The Constitution imposes that, after the veto of a decree, “if the Assembly of the Republic confirms the vote by an absolute majority of the deputies in office, the President of the Republic must promulgate the diploma within eight days of its receipt” .
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