The CDS-PP asked the Ombudsman to ask the Constitutional Court for a consistent review of the decree decriminalizing physician-assisted death, in defense that “there is a greater good that needs to be protected.”
A CDS-PP delegation led by Party President Nuno Melo, which included Vice President Paulo Nunsio and press secretary Isabel Galriza Neto, met this Monday with the Ombudsman to present this request in person to Maria Lucía Amaral, following a submission last week document prepared by the constitutionalist Paulo Otero.
“The goal is related to the constitutional recognition of the diploma, which, in our opinion, as far as the issue of civilization is concerned, is deeply wrong,” Nuno Melo said in a statement to the Lusa news agency at the end of the meeting.
The CDS-PP leader recalled that the party “has always been at the forefront of the parliamentary fight against euthanasia” and defended that “there are a number of aspects that justify the Constitutional Court’s assessment.”
“Starting from the presence of numerous concepts that are vague and not defined, and therefore very dangerous and cause great legal uncertainty, aspects that even in the initial versions were not taken into account by the Constitutional Court, since they were not even raised by the Constitutional Court. President of the Republic, to which new issues are added, for example, issues related to euthanasia, and which well deserve the Constitutional Court to also take a stand,” he stressed.
The MEP also stated that “CDS is the first party to show diligence and effective initiative regarding the possibility of the Constitutional Court taking a stand, naturally through the Ombudsman.”
Nuno Melo indicated that he had not received a response from Maria Luzia Amaral, but said he had “great confidence” that his request would be honored.
“In everything possible for CDS, this fight doesn’t end there. There is a great good that needs to be protected, and today we have taken a very important step in this direction,” says Nuno Melo.
In the 22-page document handed over to the Ombudsman, the CPS-PP also refers to the constitutional principle of the inviolability of human life and disrespect for the autonomous regions.
Speaking to Lusa, Nuno Melo also criticized the proposal to amend the statutes of professional orders, pointing out “political interference in the functioning of the orders, which is contrary to absolute autonomy”, and foreseeing “tremendous damage” to society.
“The CDS considers this a matter of paramount importance due to the fact that it covers most of the liberal professions in Portugal, in a decision that the government wants to impose, in many cases without any proper prior hearing, but which radically interferes with the role of professional organizations in with regard to the exercise of relevant professions,” the president of CDS-PP emphasized.
On 16 May, the President of the Republic promulgated a decree to decriminalize death in healthcare, as required by the Constitution, after it was approved by parliament following its political veto.
The law was published in Diário da República a few days later and comes into force 30 days after the adoption of the regulation, which must be approved by the government within about three months.
The SDP has already admitted collecting the signatures of the required number of deputies (23) to demand a consistent review of the law on euthanasia, but the request has not yet been fulfilled.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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