Politics · Italy · 6 hrs ago
Italy's government challenges Veneto's assisted-dying law
Italy's government has challenged Veneto's law on assisted dying, which the region approved in September.
Veneto is the first region governed by the centre-right to face this challenge; the government had previously challenged similar laws in regions led by the centre-left.
Five Italian regions have approved end-of-life rules, including Veneto, Tuscany, Sardinia, Emilia-Romagna and Umbria.
Regional president Luca Zaia backed the law, saying it sets guidance for cases already covered by existing rules and gives patients, families and doctors clearer direction.
Reform Minister Roberto Calderoli voted against the government's challenge, while Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini was reported not to have taken part in the vote.
+Europa leader Riccardo Magi criticised the move and said a national law should protect people's freedom of choice.
The dispute can now be taken to Italy's Constitutional Court, while Zaia urged Parliament to address the issue with national legislation.
Italy’s government has challenged Veneto’s law regulating assisted dying, sending the dispute to the Constitutional Court.
The law was approved by the Veneto regional council in September 2026.
Regional Affairs Minister Roberto Calderoli voted against the challenge, arguing that the law sets guidelines under existing rules.
Veneto regional council president Luca Zaia defended the law and urged Parliament to pass national legislation.
Riccardo Magi of +Europa criticized the government’s decision as centralizing and called for a national law guaranteeing freedom of choice.
Five Italian regions have approved laws regulating end-of-life issues, and the government has challenged each of them.
- Who
- Italy’s Council of Ministers challenged Veneto’s law on assisted dying.
- What
- The government referred the regional law to the Constitutional Court.
- When
- 5 November 2026.
- Where
- Veneto, Italy.
- Why
- The government challenged the law; it said it considered the regional measure constitutionally questionable. Calderoli argued it only set guidelines under existing rules.
Italian government
Veneto regional council and law supporters
Legal challenge
Italian government
The government challenged Veneto’s law, referring it to the Constitutional Court.
Veneto regional council and law supporters
Supporters say the regional law provides rules for situations already covered by the legal system.
Need for national legislation
Italian government
The government has challenged regional laws on end-of-life issues.
Veneto regional council and law supporters
Zaia and Magi called for Parliament to pass a national law.
Veneto’s regional council approved its law on end-of-life issues.
The Council of Ministers challenged Veneto’s law.
Calderoli voted against the challenge, while Salvini did not take part in the vote, according to informed sources.
- Government action
- Challenged Veneto’s assisted-dying law
- Law approved
- September 2026
- Vote against challenge
- Roberto Calderoli, Minister for Regional Affairs
- Regions with end-of-life laws
- Tuscany, Sardinia, Emilia-Romagna, Umbria and Veneto
- Constitutional review
- The challenge was referred to the Constitutional Court
4 sources
Impugnata la legge del Veneto sul fine vita, il governo si divide
Legge sul fine vita in Veneto impugnata dal governo, Magi (+Europa): “Esecutivo talebano anche con i suoi stessi governatori, altro che autonomia”
Fine vita, il governo impugna la legge del Veneto (guidato dal centrodestra). Salvini assente, Calderoli vota contro
What people are saying
si tratta di una legge ordinamentale che indica solo le linee guida attenendosi alle norme già in vigore
Rispetto pienamente la decisione assunta oggi dal Consiglio dei ministri di impugnare la legge veneta sul fine vita.
Il Parlamento trovi la forza e il coraggio di intervenire, approvando una legge che dia finalmente risposte concrete a queste persone malate, alle loro famiglie e a chi ogni giorno le accompagna in un percorso di sofferenza.
È il segnale di un esecutivo talebano e centralizzatore che va contro i suoi stessi amministratori, i suoi stessi elettori, contro la propria stessa maggioranza.