Anchor the right to cash in the Basic Law

The state parliament has rejected a proposal from the AfD parliamentary group, which advocates stronger legal protection for cash. Specifically, the group is calling on the state government to advocate for a change to the Basic Law at the federal level and to explicitly enshrine the right to use cash in it. To this end, Article 14 (guarantee of ownership) should be supplemented by a further paragraph. This would stipulate that cash can be used without restrictions, banknotes are the only unrestricted legal tender and restrictions or abolition of cash are not permitted. The AfD faction's justification is that cash has an important function for storing value and financial privacy. It is also argued that cash works independently of banks and offers advantages over electronic means of payment, especially in crisis situations. At the same time, the group expresses concern that political and economic developments, such as the introduction of a digital euro or restrictions on cash payments, could lead to the displacement of cash in the long term. The motion was rejected by 114 votes against to 26 votes in favor.