For the Seimas to start considering the organization of a referendum in 2027 alongside local elections after submission, 29 parliamentarians voted in favor, 25 against, and 18 abstained.
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The referendum was initiated by the “Nemuno aušros” faction, and the idea was supported by signatures from the “valstiečiai”, social democrats, representatives of the Mixed Group of Seimas members, as well as several opposition democrats and liberal Andrius Bagdonas.
Presenting the initiative, “aušrietis” Karolis Neimantas stated that cash ensures greater independence and privacy for residents. He emphasized that cash is very important due to disruptions in information technologies and cyber attacks.
“The freedom to pay is increasingly narrowed and restricted,” he said.
Liberal Eugenijus Gentvilas doubted the usefulness of the referendum, as it would be advisory.
The referendum proposed to ask whether residents agree that the Constitution should enshrine the provision that the law guarantees a person’s right to pay in cash.
The referendum initiators say that restricting cash could have a negative impact on part of society, especially older people, residents of regions, and those lacking digital skills.
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Members of the “Nemuno aušros” faction last year proposed increasing the limit from 5 thousand to 15 thousand euros. The Ministry of Finance at that time opposed such amendments, stating that it would negatively affect efforts to reduce the shadow economy, but this year proposed increasing the limit to 10 thousand euros; however, according to Minister Kristupas Vaitiekūnas, after hearing the arguments of law enforcement agencies, the idea was abandoned.
Conservatives, among other things, have registered a proposal to reduce this limit to 3 thousand euros and to completely ban cash transactions between companies.
From February of this year until August 11, a group of citizens is collecting signatures for a referendum on the right to pay in cash. So far, 7.6 thousand signatures have been collected electronically. The Central Electoral Commission has no data on how many people have signed on paper.
For the referendum to be announced, at least 300 thousand signatures must be collected within six months.
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