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.
"With French members of the Parliament Jean-Marc Nesme, Marc Le Fur, Dominique Souchet, Véronique Besse and Bernard Depierre, let’s give our support for the Grand Duke of Luxembourg," the petition page states.
The petition is located at http://www.liberte-politique.com/soutien_au_Grand_Duc_du_Luxembourg/php/appel_en.php