The German government’s budget for its upcoming campaign to promote the legalization of cannabis is causing controversy, as it has been prioritized over the promotion of the electronic identity (eID) system. The eID system, which is linked to the electronic personal identification card (ePA), has been available for several years but has not yet gained widespread acceptance among the general public. Despite this, the government has allocated only a fraction of the budget for the cannabis campaign for the promotion of the eID system.

According to Ernst Bürger, head of the Digital Administration Department at the Federal Interior Ministry, the government’s decision to cut back on the eID campaign due to financial constraints is “disappointing.” In a recent interview, he expressed his regret that the government could not afford to launch a large-scale awareness campaign for the eID system, despite the fact that it has the potential to improve the lives of citizens in many ways.

The federal government has earmarked 2 million euros for the cannabis campaign in 2024, which is set to begin in August of this year. This is in addition to the 1.28 million euros that were spent on the eID system in 2023. The total cost of the two-year campaign is estimated to be around 3.28 million euros.

The breakdown of the costs for the eID system is as follows: 313,000 euros were spent on outdoor advertising, such as billboards, 100,000 euros were spent on social media ads, and 22,000 euros were spent on print ads. However, the exact breakdown of the costs for the cannabis campaign is not yet available, as the campaign has not yet begun.

Markus Reichel, a CDU/CSU member of the Bundestag and the party’s digital identity expert, has expressed his dismay at the government’s priorities. “It is telling that the eID campaign has been cut from the budget, while there is enough money for the cannabis campaign,” he said. “This suggests that the government’s priorities are not in line with those of the people.”

Reichel believes that the government should be investing more in the digitalization of Germany, rather than pursuing a controversial drug policy. “We need to get the eID into the hands of the people, not just for the sake of the health card, but also because of the upcoming European digital driver’s license,” he said.

In order to achieve this goal, Reichel believes that the government should be promoting practical applications of the eID system, as well as providing information about what is already possible with the system. “We need to show people how the eID can make their lives easier, not just tell them about its potential,” he said.

Overall, the controversy over the government’s budget for the eID system and the cannabis campaign highlights the ongoing challenges faced by the German government in its efforts to promote digitalization and modernize the country’s infrastructure. While the government has made some progress in these areas, there is still much work to be done to ensure that all citizens are able to fully benefit from the available technology.