Senator Benedetti in heated discussion, photo, El Espectador
Colombia´s Congress will be allowed to decide on a law to permit euthanasia said Interior Minister Fernando Carrillo on Wednesday.
The proposal has been placed before parliament by former President of the Senate, Armando Benedetti, and on Tuesday passed its first hearing.
With ten votes in favour and four against, the proposal will now move from the First Senate Committee to a second debate in a plenary session of the upper chamber.
The proposal seeks to allow adults suffering intense pain from an incurable and terminal disease to seek assisted suicide.
Colombia´s Conservative Party is opposed to the bill, while Liberal Party senator, Juan Carlos Galán lent his party´s support, saying:
“No one can impose, under compulsion, to suffer or feel pain, to prolong a painful life, one has every right to be in control of one´s destiny”
For now the government is opting not to express a view, but will wait to hear the results of the subsequent debates in Congress.
Benedetti´s move is surprisingly liberal for traditional, and Catholic Colombia – brave less than a year before re-election campaigns begin.
Oponents of the legislation in particular U Party Senator, Juan Carlos Vélez have attempted to distance the debate from their religion, arguing that the defence of life is a philosophical position, independent from Catholic belief.
Benedetti is rarely out of the news and is one of the country´s most high profile (non government) politicians. He is particularly known for his campaigns for minority groups.
Colombia Politics will continue to report on the story as it develops.
Kevin Howlett
Kevin is a political consultant and lobbyist who cut his teeth working in the UK Parliament. He is a regular panelist on Colombian television, a political communication strategist and a university lecturer. Kevin is the founder and editor of Colombia Politics.
