The government is challenging Veneto’s law on end-of-life care. Salvini is not voting in the Council of Ministers

As reported by Il Foglio, during the Council of Ministers meeting, the government decided to challenge the Veneto region’s end-of-life law – the first region governed by the centre-right (whose governor is Alberto Stefani of the Lega) to give the green light to the legislation. Deputy Prime Minister and Lega leader Matteo Salvini did not take part in either the debate or the vote. Meanwhile, the Minister for Regional Affairs, Roberto Calderoli – also a member of the Lega – spoke out against the challenge, arguing that it is a statutory law which merely sets out guidelines in accordance with regulations already in force.

It was the first centre-right-led region to introduce legislation on end-of-life care. However, following the cases in Tuscany, Sardinia and Emilia-Romagna, the government is now set to block Veneto as well – specifically President Alberto Stefani and, above all, Luca Zaia, the former Doge who was the first to push for Regional Law No. 17 of 8 September 2026, which establishes ‘procedures for regional healthcare provision regarding medically assisted suicide’. This afternoon, according to well-informed sources, the Council of Ministers will challenge the law passed by the Regional Council on 2 September with 32 votes in favour, 14 against and 5 abstentions (after an initial attempt in January 2024 had failed by a single vote).

The key will be to see how the League’s ministers behave, first and foremost Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, who on the issue of end-of-life care had initially granted his colleagues freedom of conscience, only to then effectively align himself with the position of FdI, which does not want legislation on the matter. It is primarily Forza Italia that is leading the battle in the Senate to ensure that the Senate can prevent the regions from acting in a disorganised manner. But it is also Forza Italia that is aware that there is now no time left to do anything. “Those who did not want and do not want the law will bear the responsibility,” said Stefania Craxi, Forza Italia’s group leader in the Senate, a few days ago. But today’s outcome – namely, the blocking of the Veneto region’s end-of-life law – sets a precedent for a centre-right region. And it puts the government delegation from the Via Bellerio party in an awkward position, as they may abstain when the vote takes place in the Council of Ministers.