2023-08-04 20:00:27
Issue of Saturday 5 August 2023
Innsbruck (OTS) – Now the Chancellor’s party has discovered the protection of cash for itself. In doing so, she hijacks an issue that the Freedom Party has been focusing on for a long time – hoping that it will pay off in the coming elections.
For a long time now, the Liberals have been betting on the supposed value of cash among voters. There is a petition for the “Festung Geld” from them, they have submitted applications to the cause in the National Council. Party leader Herbert Kickl is calling for a referendum on the protection of cash in the constitution and the right to cash payments. He brushed his political competitors off with all of this.
At the end of June, ÖVP Finance Minister Magnus Brunner said regarding the Blues’ request: “There is no discussion at all that cash will be abolished – neither in Europe nor in Austria.”
In fact, there aren’t. Nevertheless, the ÖVP Chancellor is now presenting himself as a cash keeper. Karl Nehammer also wants cash to be enshrined in the constitution. It is also regarding “basic care” at a reasonable distance – and regarding ensuring that it is still possible to pay with cash.
Kickl, with whom the ÖVP has been in a verbal infight for weeks, rejoices. “Aren’t you embarrassed regarding stealing your ideas from the ‘evil and extreme FPÖ’?” he asked in the direction of the head of government.
With the abrupt change of heart on this issue, the ÖVP remains at the Schnitzel level. Like years ago with the asylum and refugee issue, she hijacks populism in blue. The pattern is like that of the popular meat dish: although no one thinks of banning it, I pretend to be its savior. Although, as the Treasury Secretary himself says, nobody is thinking of getting rid of cash, I pretend to be its savior.
One has “gained the realization that cash is very important to people,” says Nehammer. This one comes late. The fact that many people in this country like to pay in cash is nothing new; the FPÖ was familiar with that. Targets are aimed at the stomachs of these citizens in the hope that this will pay off in the next election.
The self-proclaimed combatants may not have noticed that “cash in the constitution” doesn’t top the “top concern” column. Too many have neither enough cash nor enough money on a bank card to cope with life in times of exorbitant inflation in all areas.
The highest duty of politicians would be to do everything possible to alleviate these hardships instead of causing even more uncertainty if need be. But suggesting the solution to a problem that doesn’t exist is simply easier than eliminating the real problems.
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