Slovenians reject in a referendum a law on assisted dying for terminally ill patients

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) — Slovenians on Sunday rejected in a referendum a law that allowed terminally ill patients to end their lives, according to preliminary results released by the election authorities.

The near-complete count showed that around 53% voted against the law while around 46% supported it. The no-votes also represented more than 20% of 1.7 million eligible voters in Slovenia, which is requested by the election rules.

Turnout was nearly 41%, the State Electoral Commission said.

“Compassion has won,” declared Ales Primc, a conservative activist who led the campaign against assisted dying. “Slovenia has rejected the government’s health, pension and social reform based on death by poisoning."

Parliament in the small European Union nation passed the law in July after voters had backed it in a nonbinding referendum last year. Primc and other opponents, however, have forced another vote on the divisive issue after collecting more than 40,000 signatures.

Sunday's outcome means that the existing law is now suspended. Advocates of assisted dying said they were disappointed but expressed conviction a new legislation will be passed in the future.

Prime Minister Robert Golob said in a press release that while the current bill was rejected the “challenge we are addressing still remains.”

“This is not a political issue, it has always been a matter of dignity, human rights, and individual choice,” he added.

The law envisaged that mentally competent people, who have no chance of recovery or are facing unbearable pain have the right to assisted dying. This meant that patients would administer the lethal medication themselves after approval from two doctors and a period of consultation.

The law did not apply to people with mental illnesses.

Backers, including PM Golob's liberal government, have argued that the law gives people a chance to die with dignity and decide themselves how and when to end their suffering.

Opponents included conservative groups, some doctors associations and the Catholic church. They insisted that the law went against Slovenia's constitution and that the state should work to provide better palliative care instead.

President Natasa Pirc Musar said upon voting on Sunday that it is “extremely important” for the citizens to go to the polls and “not only when there are parliamentary or presidential elections.”

“It is right for us as individuals to say what we think about a certain topic,” she said. “It is right for us to tell politicians what we think is right and what we think is wrong.”

Several other EU countries have already passed similar laws, including Slovenia's neighbor Austria.

A voter casts her ballot at a polling station during the referendum on assisted dying for terminally ill patients, in Domzale, Slovenia, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Commission wait for voters at a polling station during the referendum on assisted dying for terminally ill patients, in Domzale, Slovenia, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

Voters register at a polling station during the referendum on assisted dying for terminally ill patients, in Domzale, Slovenia, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

A voter casts her ballot at a polling station during the referendum on assisted dying for terminally ill patients, in Domzale, Slovenia, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 12, 2026--

Global Critical Resources Corporation (GCR) today announced the appointment of Matthieu Bos as a Member of its Advisory Board. Mr. Bos is a seasoned executive with more than fifteen years of experience in the mining and banking industries.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260112354990/en/

Mr. Bos is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of Falcon Energy Materials Plc (TSX: FLCN) (Falcon), an anode material development company. Backed by La Mancha Fund, Falcon is building a battery material plant in the Kingdom of Morocco.

Prior to joining Falcon, Mr. Bos served as Executive Vice President Africa of Ivanhoe Mines (TSX:IVN) (Ivanhoe), a leading Canadian diversified mining company which has developed the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo. His responsibilities included corporate development, investor relations, concentrate marketing, and government relations. Mr. Bos also helped Ivanhoe secure more than $3 billion in financing and investment. Mr. Bos began his career in the metals and mining group of BMO Capital Markets.

Mr. Bos also has an impressive track record of advising companies in the natural resources sector. He will continue to serve on the board of Hercules Metals (TSX:BIG), an Idaho-focused copper exploration company, and SRQ Exploration (TSX:SRQ), a Quebec-focused nickel exploration company. Mr. Bos was previously Non-Executive Director at Elemental Altus Royalties, a precious metals royalty company which attracted the first investment in the mining sector from the Tether stablecoin, and Shanta Gold, an East African gold producer.

Mr. Bos holds a Master of Science degree in Metallurgy and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mining Engineering, both from the Delft University of Technology. He speaks Dutch, English, and French.

“We are excited to welcome Matthieu to our team. His considerable experience and track record of success in the mining industry across Africa and the world will help bring GCR to its next chapter of growth,” said GCR’s Executive Chairman Cevdet Caner.

GCR Chief Executive Officer Richard Bunning said, “Matthieu’s appointment demonstrates our commitment to building a world-class advisory team with deep technical, operational, and geopolitical expertise. His leadership and unique perspective will accelerate the execution of our strategic vision.”

Mr. Bos stated, “I am honored to join GCR’s Advisory Board at such a pivotal time for the company. I look forward to working with Cevdet, Richard, and rest of GCR’s first-class team as they create a strong foundation for long-term success in this critical industry.”

Global Critical Resources Corporation (GCR) is a U.S.-registered producer of the critical metals that power modern life with assets in Africa and South America. GCR’s Executive Chairman, Austrian entrepreneur Cevdet Caner, has over two decades experience investing in the mining and property sectors and is the founder of several multi-billion-dollar real estate and natural resource companies.

Matthieu Bos, Advisory Board Member, Global Critical Resources Corporation