Former Standard president Roland Duchâtelet has proposed facilitating euthanasia for elderly individuals who no longer wish to live, suggesting the move could address costs he estimates at 10 billion euros.
The proposal follows intense criticism from political figures, including CD&V president Sammy Mahdi, who stated that such ideas “resemble the Nazi regime.”
Duchâtelet argued that maintaining elderly individuals who no longer wish to live places a burden on social security and future generations. He believes the current euthanasia procedure is too complex and should be eased to allow certain people to die on their own terms.
In an interview with Het Laatste Nieuws, the entrepreneur clarified that his proposal does not target all elderly people in end-of-life stages. He specified his comments were directed at:
- Individuals who are “tired of living.”
- People who no longer realize what is happening around them or lack the intellectual capacity to express a desire to die.
- Seniors suffering from their current condition who feel “life has lasted long enough” and wish to depart of their own accord.
Duchâtelet stated that society must have the courage to address this issue because the current situation “makes people unhappy” and “costs a fortune to our children and grandchildren.” He expressed no regret for raising the topic, noting that he has nothing to lose unlike politicians who must please their voters.
Addressing his own mortality, the entrepreneur mentioned he will turn 80 next week. “I will soon die too, but if I feel I have done my part, I must be able to leave,” he said, adding that the ultimate goal should be quality of life.
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