The FPÖ warns against introducing a limit of €5,000 for cash payments. This is being planned in the EU and supported by the ÖVP, according to the presentation – as a source for this assumption, the Freedom Party cited conversations with ÖVP-EU Deputy Othmar Karas today, according to which Chancellor Karl Nehammer and Minister of Finance Magnus Brunner (both ÖVP) in the EU had already given the green light to the upper limit.
Karas was then very surprised by the statements made by the FPÖ. There was a meeting with several party representatives, but neither the 5,000 number nor the federal chancellor and finance minister was an issue, according to an APA spokesman.
Rather, it is correct that on the EU side, in the discussion of a maximum cash limit, there was originally a range of 5,000 to 15,000 euros, while the EU Parliament voted in favor of 7,000 euros and the member states for a limit of 10,000 euros. , according to Karas’ office.
FPÖ fears “transparent consumers”
According to Susanne Fürst, spokeswoman for the FPÖ, it does not matter whether cash payments of this amount are common, given the Freedom Party’s negative attitude. It’s just about being able to do it.
Prince and consumer protection spokesman Peter Wurm did not accept that the ability to pay large sums of money has long been criticized by anti-corruption fighters. Criminals always found ways to launder money, both said.
Limiting the use of cash would lead to a transparent consumer, warned Wurm. However, he admitted that bank customers already have to identify themselves if they have large amounts of cash. Fürst again warned against the “if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear” argument.
The FPÖ spokeswoman for the constitution said it “has not given a shilling” for promises made by the EU to respect data protection. Fürst and Wurm repeated their call for the money to be anchored in the constitution.