Government aims to push through budget amendment

Prime Minister Donald Tusk (L), Minister of the Economy Janusz Piechocinski (C) and Finance Minister Jacek Rostowski (R) in Poland's lower house of parliament (Sejm) on Tuesday. Photo: PAP/Pawel Supernak

The draft amendment, which increases the budget deficit by about 16 billion zloty (3.76 billion euro) to 35.6 billion zloty (8.37 billion euro), will be debated on Wednesday, as part of the first session following the August holiday break.

Finance Minister Jacek Rostowski originally revealed plans to amend the budget in July after revised estimates indicated that budget revenues for this year will be 24 billion zloty less (5.64 billion euro) than previously forecast.

On August 20, the government announced that spending cuts would now amount to 7.65 billion zloty (1.79 billion euro), as opposed to the 8.5 billion figure floated in July.

The most significant cuts are scheduled to be taken by the Ministry of Defence (3.146 billion zloty/ 739.9 million euro) and the Ministry of Transport (1.012 billion zloty/ 238 million euro).

After the budget amendment was announced in July, chief opposition party Law and Justice (PiS) called for a public inquiry.

Yesterday, PiS voted against the budget amendment being included in the current parliamentary session, but although 136 MPs tried to block the inclusion, a majority of 247 voted in favour of considering the amendment, while 30 abstained. (nh)

Source: PAP