Government challenges Veneto end-of-life law before Constitutional Court, Salvini skips vote

Cabinet decision

The Council of Ministers decided on Thursday, 5 November 2026, to challenge the end-of-life law approved by the Veneto regional council, the first such law passed by a centre-right administration. The regional law, number 17 and dated 8 September 2026, was approved by the regional assembly on 2 September and sets out 'procedures and timelines for regional healthcare assistance regarding medically assisted suicide.' Under the constitution, the government can take a regional law to the Constitutional Court (Consulta) when it considers the law to raise constitutional problems. The governor of Veneto, Alberto Stefani, belongs to the League, which is also the party of Salvini and Roberto Calderoli.

Luca Zaia, president of the Veneto regional council, responded by stating that he fully accepted the cabinet's decision and defended the regional choice.

“I fully respect the decision taken today by the Council of Ministers to challenge the Veneto end-of-life law.”

Divisions within the League

Matteo Salvini, deputy prime minister and League leader, reportedly took part in neither the discussion nor the vote, according to ANSA and Tgcom24. Roberto Calderoli, minister for regional affairs and also a League member, spoke against the challenge. He described the Veneto law as purely organisational, setting out guidelines that remain in line with existing rules. AGI reports that Calderoli voted against the challenge and contrasts the Veneto law with the laws of Tuscany, Emilia and Sardinia. Zaia called it fully legitimate that League representatives in the cabinet did not take part in the vote. Tgcom24 frames the decision as one taken by the Meloni government.

Regional laws across Italy

Tgcom24 says Umbria was the most recent region to adopt its own end-of-life law in the absence of a national framework, joining Tuscany, Sardinia, Emilia-Romagna and Veneto. The regional laws define how requests for medically assisted suicide are submitted, set timelines for checks and clarify the role of healthcare facilities, following criteria laid down by Constitutional Court rulings. Zaia said the challenge would give rise to further legal study, but argued that the real problem is a legislative gap on end-of-life that Italy has carried for too many years. In his view, no parliament has yet managed to close that gap, and the problem cannot be assigned to this government or to a single political majority.

Reactions from Parliament and the UDC

Antonio De Poli, senator and national secretary of the UDC, reacted to reports that the government might challenge the Veneto law. He argued that the issue concerns the dignity of individuals, the suffering of patients and their families, and requires clear and uniform rules across the country.

“On end-of-life, we cannot proceed with different laws from region to region.”

De Poli said that a challenge by the government would be a matter of institutional consistency with what had already happened in other regions, not a question of party affiliation. He added that the UDC believes Parliament should take responsibility for addressing the topic.