Former Dutch Prime Minister Dries van Agt died “hand in hand” with his wife Eugenie through legal euthanasia.
Rights Forum, a human rights organization founded by Agt, announced on Friday that the couple, both 93 years old, died on Monday in their hometown of Nijmegen.
“He died hand in hand with his beloved wife Eugenie van Acht-Krekelberg, with whom he lived for more than 70 years and whom he always called ‘my girl’ and supported him,” the nonprofit organization said. said. said in a statement.
Both Aguto and his wife suffered from deteriorating health for some time before choosing death.
The former prime minister suffered a brain hemorrhage in 2019 while speaking at a memorial service for Palestinians, a cause to which he dedicated the last decades of his life. He never fully recovered.
Van Agt and his wife were seriously ill but “couldn’t live without each other,” said nonprofit director Jerad Jonkman. told broadcaster NOS Regarding the choice of euthanasia.
Dual euthanasia, in which two people receive lethal injections at the same time, is still relatively rare in the Netherlands, but is gradually becoming more popular, the newspaper reported.
In 2022, 29 couples chose to die as a pair, and 16 in 2021, up from 13 the previous year.
Van Agt held several political positions throughout his long career, most notably as Prime Minister of the Netherlands from 1977 to 1982.
After a visit to Israel in 1999, the Christian Democrats became increasingly vocal in their support for the Palestinian people.
In 2009 he founded the Rights Forum, which advocates for a “just and sustainable Dutch and European policy on the Palestinian/Israeli issue”.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte called Van Agt his “great-grandfather in office” and remembered his predecessor as a true leader.
“With her colorful and unique language, clear convictions and impressive presentations, Dries van Agt gave color and substance to Dutch politics in a time of polarization and party renewal,” Rutte said. he said. said in a statement.
The Royal Family of the Netherlands also praised him, saying, “He fulfilled his administrative responsibilities in turbulent times and succeeded in inspiring many people with his striking personality and versatile style.”King Willem-Alexander and Máxima The Queen, Princess Beatrix, said in a joint statement.
with post wire
