Paris, France, Dec 15, 2008 / 22:55 pm
A petition drive has been launched to support Grand Duke Henri I of Luxembourg, who has imperiled his political powers by opposing a euthanasia legalization bill recently proposed in his country’s parliament.
Socialist and Green party lawmakers are backing the measure, which Henri I has said he will not approve for reasons of conscience. The overwhelmingly Catholic population of Luxembourg reportedly also opposes the proposal.
The duke’s action has triggered what some have called a "grave constitutional crisis" as the parliament moves to strip the duke of his constitutional power to sanction law.
The Paris-based Fondation de Service Politique has launched a petition drive for people to support the Duke’s resistance to the euthanasia law. It pledges to deliver petitions supporting the Grand Duke through Elizabeth Monfort, a former Minister of the European Parliament.