The Portuguese Parliament will start debating the legalisation of euthanasia on 1 February, following a petition signed by 8,300 citizens.
The issue has been spearheaded by the Left Bloc party, which together with the Communist Party supports the Socialist Government, and by PAN, the animal rights party, which has only one sitting MP.
But the Socialist Government and the Communist Party want to avoid a heated and divisive debate on this subject, for fear of alienating Christian voters just months away from local elections and while the country is gearing up for a papal visit, in May.
For now only the petition is being discussed and no draft laws have been submitted, but PAN and the Left Bloc have been saying they intend to do so. Although the Socialists are expected to try to dissuade the Left Bloc, the animal rights party has nothing to lose and may go ahead with its plan. If it does so, the Left Bloc will probably submit a proposal of their own.
Meanwhile a second petition was handed in to Parliament just last week, requesting the rejection of any proposal which allows the State to take a human life. This second proposal received over 14,000 signatures and has been backed publicly by seven different associations of Catholic professionals, including doctors, nurses, and psychologists.
Five former presidents of the Portuguese medical association, which is secular and represents the entire medical class, have come out publicly against any legalisation of euthanasia and the bishops have spoken out firmly against the subject as well, with many stressing the need to invest, instead, in end of life care.
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