New Zealand's parliament has passed a bill making euthanasia legal, meaning the issue will now go to a national referendum (AFP Photo/VOISHMEL) |
Wellington (AFP) - New Zealand lawmakers voted Wednesday in favour of making euthanasia legal, paving the way for the issue to be put to voters in a referendum next year.
The law,
enabling terminally ill people to request a medically assisted death was passed
69-51 at its final reading, ending years of passionate debate in parliament.
Prime
Minister Jacinda Ardern has publicly stated her support for euthanasia reform
and reluctantly voted for the referendum saying it was the only way of
advancing the legislation.
The
referendum was a demand of the New Zealand First Party, which threatened to
vote against the legislation if it wasn't put to the public -- possibly
condemning it to fail.
"New
Zealanders elect us, but they do not elect our consciences," New Zealand
First MP Tracey Martin said.
The bill
sponsor, libertarian MP David Seymour, said before the vote he was confident it
would be passed.
"We've
had the arguments -- I don't think anyone will ever be able to say that
parliament didn't properly scrutinise this bill," he said.
"It's
been nearly two years since the parliamentary process started. And over that
time we've kicked around every conceivable argument for and against the
bill."
While MPs
voted, protesters against euthanasia -- carrying placards reading "assist
us to live not die" and "euthanasia is not the solution" --
staged a vigil outside parliament.
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