Portugal's conservative president, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, on Tuesday signed into law the law decriminalizing euthanasia. The final version of the law governing "medically assisted death" was adopted last Friday with 129 votes in favor.
After the publication of the implementing decrees, the law could enter into force next autumn, according to estimates. Euthanasia and assisted suicide are now allowed in a handful of European countries, such as those in the Benelux, the first to have authorized them, and neighboring Spain.