Aleš Primc, the initiator of the collection of signatures for a referendum against the euthanasia law, emphasised that the state only shows interest in individuals as long as they are useful and productive. “But when a person no longer works and is no longer useful to the state, it wants to get rid of them. We must prevent this, and the referendum is our last chance to do so,” he said, adding that 40,000 signatures are needed to call a referendum.
“The governing parties passed this law because they want to poison as many people as possible who are sick or elderly so that they no longer have to bear the costs associated with them,” Aleš Primc emphasised.
“They treat sick people as an expense. Instead of reforming the healthcare system and long-term care, they want to reduce the number of patients through euthanasia,” he pointed out. He describes this move as “corrupt, rude, and inhumane” and calls for its rejection in the referendum. Primc warns that the government is introducing euthanasia as the cheapest solution under the guise of a “dignified death.” As proof, he cites statements by opponents of the procedure, such as Professor Igor Pribac, who allegedly admitted that euthanasia is cost-effective.
The euthanasia law, which was passed by Golob’s government in May 2025 after heated debates, is being presented as part of the healthcare reform, but in reality, it reveals a cynical attempt to divert attention from failures. Instead of the promised improvements to the healthcare system – shorter waiting times, digitisation, and better access to doctors and specialists – the government prefers to introduce a controversial law that risks abuse and dehumanisation of the vulnerable.
Critics of the proposed law, including Primc, warn that this is a covert attempt to cut costs at the expense of the sick and elderly, which is contrary to ethical principles and promises of a comprehensive reform that we heard in 2022.
A poisoned person will no longer be on the wait list
“Once you poison a person, they will no longer be on the wait list at the doctor’s office or receive their pension. This is extremely corrupt,” he added. He points to the possibility of abuse, as shown by cases in Belgium and the Netherlands, where individuals were pressured into euthanasia. “We Slovenians tend not to want to be a burden to anyone, so vulnerable people could agree to die under pressure from their families or social services,” Primc believes.
He considers the law, which he says introduces “poisoning as a new health service,” to be morally unacceptable. “No one wants a doctor to offer them poisoning as a solution during a visit,” he said, adding that this is “the worst crime” because the state can seize individuals’ property under the guise of cost-cutting. He emphasised the need for mass participation in the collection of signatures, highlighting the ease of submitting an electronic signature: “It takes less than two minutes to submit a signature. I’ve tried it, and it works.”
A. H.
