The government has adopted a draft budget for 2023 - Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said at a press conference after Tuesday's session of the Council of Ministers. "This an ambitious budget for difficult times," Morawiecki added.
PM Mateusz Morawiecki said on Tuesday that the draft included "a great deal of assumptions and spending, which are to ensure safety for Polish families".
According to the draft, Poland's GDP in 2023 is to increase by 1.7% and inflation at the level of 9.8%.
The prime minister also said that the forecasted GDP increase for the current year was 4.6%, inflation - 13.5%, and the nominal increase of average wages in the national economy - 11.2%. He added the expected nominal increase in wages next year was 10.1%.
The draft also assumes budget revenue of 604.4 billion zlotys with expenditure totalling 669 billion - which is to result in a deficit of approx. 65 billion. The public finance sector's deficit is to be approx. 4.2-4.4% of the GDP.
Morawiecki said the government wanted to increase financial safety of Polish families. "That's why we have lowered the tax from 17 to 12%, which combined with standard deduction at 30,000 zlotys leaves additional 35 billion in Polish taxpayers' wallets. This is the first element of financial safety of Polish families. The second one includes all issues relating to social support for families and seniors," he explained.
He also assured the government would keep all existing social allowances intact, adding that further decisions would be made depending on the situation.
"In 2023, health care spending will exceed 6 percentage points calculated against the GDP. We have promised it and we shall achieve and even surpass this goal," Morawiecki said, adding that Poland would also heavily increase its military and defence spending.
Head of the governement also said unemployment at the end of 2022 was expecyted to drop to a post-1989 low of 2.7 percent, according to the methodology used by the European Union.
According to the procedure, the draft budget will now be sent over to Social Dialogue Council, which will issue its opinion regarding the plan.
The government has until September 30 to adopt the final version of the budget bill for 2023 and submit it to the parliament.
Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP