Swiss Federal Council member Karin Keller-Sutter revealed the vote results at a press conference on Sunday evening.
This decision will see Switzerland align with Hungary, Slovakia, and Slovenia, who have enshrined the right to use cash in their constitutions. Austria is also contemplating a similar move as payment methods increasingly shift to digital, a change accelerated by the pandemic.
This trend has fueled conspiracy theories about potential government control through the elimination of cash. The European Central Bank’s initiative to create a digital euro has intensified such concerns, leading to a proposal by the EU’s executive body to protect physical cash within its societies.
In Switzerland, cash payments have decreased over the past decade. In 2017, over 70% of payments at the register were made with cash, a figure that dropped to 30% in 2024, according to the Swiss National Bank data.
Previously, the Swiss Freedom Movement initiated campaigns aiming to remove unpopular government ministers, prohibit electronic voting, and ensure protection for citizens choosing not to vaccinate against Covid-19; however, these proposals did not reach the ballot.
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