Slovenia wants to anchor cash in the constitution – Diepresse.com

As a result of a citizens’ initiative, the Slovenian parliament initiated a procedure for anchoring the right to use cash in the constitution. The initiative goes back to the « Povezani Smo » association (we are connected), which presented a petition with more than 56,000 signatures in autumn 2023. The association wants to secure cash as a legal means of payment, regardless of whether digital money will be introduced in the future.

61 MPs voted for the start of the proceedings to change the constitution, which briefly achieved the required two-thirds majority, as the StA news agency reported. The parliamentary factions largely supported the initiative, only the ruling freedom movement (GS) was divided.

Advantages of cash predominate

In the parliamentary debate, the MPs described the cash as the most popular payment method, according to the StA. It guarantees freedom, autonomy, privacy, security and reliability in emergencies such as cyber attacks, power failures or natural disasters. Under the advantages, protection against unwanted surveillance was also emphasized.

The deputies also granted disadvantages of cash such as money laundering, tax evasion, illegal transactions and an increased risk of robberies. According to the StA, however, they concluded that the advantages outweigh these concerns.

Anchoring requires two-thirds majority

The Parliament has taken the first step for the constitutional anchoring of the cash. In the further procedure, it will check all legal aspects when developing the final constitutional determination. The Constitutional Committee should continue to work on the text with the support of constitutional experts. At the end of the lengthy procedure, the parliament will vote again on the proposal, whereby the constitutional change needs a two-thirds majority.

The now proposed text of the new constitutional article is: « In Slovenia, the use of cash as a means of payment is guaranteed. Everyone has the right to use cash in legal transactions. Banks also have to guarantee cash transactions in accordance with the law. » (APA)