Former Dutch prime minister and spouse die ‘hand in hand’ in authorized duo euthenasia

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By Katherine Donlevy

Former Dutch Prime Minister Dries van Agt has died by authorized euthanasia, “hand in hand” along with his spouse Eugenie.

The couple, who had been each 93, died Monday in his hometown of Nijmegen, The Rights Discussion board, a human rights group Agt based, introduced Friday.

“He died collectively and hand in hand along with his beloved spouse Eugenie van Agt-Krekelberg, the assist and assist with whom he was collectively for greater than seventy years, and whom he all the time continued to discuss with as ‘my lady,’” the nonprofit stated in an announcement.

Each Agt and his spouse had been affected by deteriorating well being for a while earlier than they selected to die.

The previous prime minister in 2019 suffered a mind hemorrhage whereas giving a speech at a commemoration occasion for Palestinians, a trigger to which he devoted the later a long time of his life. He by no means absolutely recovered.

Van Agt and his spouse had been very in poor health, however “couldn’t stay with out one another,” the nonprofit’s director Gerad Jonkman informed broadcaster NOS in regards to the selection for euthanasia.

Duo euthanasia, or two folks receiving a deadly injection concurrently, remains to be comparatively uncommon within the Netherlands however is slowly gaining extra reputation, the outlet reported.

Twenty-nine {couples} opted for the paired loss of life in 2022, up from 16 who selected it in 2021 and the 13 pairs the 12 months earlier than.

Van Agt served in a number of political capacities all through his lengthy profession, notably because the Netherlands’ prime minister from 1977 till 1982.

Following a go to to Israel in 1999, the Christian Democrat turned more and more vocal about his assist for the Palestinian folks.

In 2009, he based The Rights Discussion board, which advocates for a “simply and sustainable Dutch and European coverage concerning the Palestine/Israel subject.”

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who referred to van Agt as his “great-great-grandfather in workplace,” remembered his predecessor as an genuine chief.

“Along with his flowery and distinctive language, his clear convictions and his placing presentation, Dries van Agt gave shade and substance to Dutch politics in a time of polarization and social gathering renewal,” Rutte stated in an announcement.

The Dutch royal household additionally praised him: “He took administrative duty in a turbulent time and managed to encourage many along with his placing character and colourful fashion,” King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima and Princess Beatrix stated in a joint assertion.

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