Euthanasia: Coscioni Association, 100 thousand signatures to date for referendum

Over 100,000,000 people have signed up to date for the Referendum on Legal Euthanasia. The estimates, which include subscriptions in the municipal offices, increase the figure by a further 10,000 subscriptions. This was announced by the Luca Coscioni Association, speaking of an "extraordinary national mobilization which, in particular, between 9 and 12 July saw queues to sign in over 1000 tables set up in more than 250 Municipalities". The top 5 regions for signatures collected per 10,000 inhabitants are Valle d'Aosta (41.5 per 10,000 inhabitants), Piedmont (26.0), Umbria (24.8), Emilia-Romagna (20.3), Trentino-Alto Adige (19.1).

Involved in the collection of signatures many volunteers throughout Italy from over 2000 municipalities: they are 9360, 1802 authenticators, of which 1097 lawyers, 155 law firms open to signatures.

To these national figures are added over 70 Italians residing abroad intent on collecting signatures in consulates around the world.

"We have created the conditions to reach the goal of 500,000 signatures by 30 September, despite obstructions and obstacles of all kinds, which we are overcoming thanks to the extraordinary work of 12,000 volunteers", said Marco Cappato, Treasurer of the Association Luca Coscioni. 

"It is impressive - notes Cappato - to see how the official political debate is totally disinterested in the euthanasia issue and in the ongoing collection of signatures, while a mobilization is underway in all the Italian provinces with queues to sign that form as soon as we open a banquet ". And again: "No adhesion between the main national parties, obstructionism in many municipalities that refuse forms and do not collaborate with the collection of signatures by denying streets and squares, exhausting postponement by the Government on the subject of electronic subscription via Spid and digital signature, absence of information to lawyers and councilors and municipal employees on their ability to authenticate signatures,absence of any type of institutional communication by the public radio and television service and total elimination of the theme from the main television lounges - continues Cappato -. In this context, the 12,000 volunteers are carrying out a small secular miracle that will now see the most difficult passage in the month of August, with the closure of the lawyers' offices and the holidays of many. From next week, the subscription campaign will also start in the municipal offices where we have sent the forms at our expense, in the absence of the provision of a telematic system, even if required by law. "Growing, the Coscioni Association emphasizes, also the organizations, movements and parties that have joined the Referendum Promoting Committee.