By Susan Brinkmann, OCDS Staff Writer The ranking monarch in Luxembourg, Grand Duke Henri, is to be stripped of his executive power to veto laws because he is refusing to sign a controversial euthanasia bill into law for ethical reasons. Jean-Claude Juncker, the Prime Minister of the tiny country of less than a half million, said the Grand Duke overstepped his power by announcing his intention to refuse to sign the bill, and will propose a change to the constitution that will downgrade the monarch’s role in approving legislation. “I understand the Grand Duke’s problems of conscience,” Juncker said in a radio address. “But I believe that if the parliament votes in a law, it must be brought into force.” The new law, which would decriminalize certain types of euthanasia, was narrowly passed in draft form in February with 30 votes for and 26 against. After a second and final reading of the bill this month, it is expected to pass once again. At this point, the Grand Duke would normally “approve and promulgate” the law by signing it within three months. Without his signature, however, the bill cannot become law. The 53 year old hereditary sovereign, who is the last Grand Duke in the world, shares the same concerns as opponents of the bill who fear the new legislation will lead to euthanasia becoming an every day occurrence as it has in neighboring countries of Belgium and the Netherlands. However, the Grand Duke's power to prevent the bill's passage may be stripped if the Prime Minister’s constitutional changes are approved. He would then become a figure head like most other existing monarchs in the world. Luc Frieden, the Justice Minister, explained: “[The Grand Duke] will no longer participate in the legislative process; he will just sign the law to mark the completion of the procedure.” François Bausch, the leader of the Green party which is supporting the euthanasia bill, is hoping the constitutional changes will pass and eventually lead to passage of the bill. “I hope the law will pass through Parliament by the end of the year. I hope that the Grand Duke will respect the consensus which has always prevailed in Luxembourg.” © All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly/Women of Grace. http://www.womenofgrace.com