Today, the Polish Parliament received a request from President Andrzej Duda to reconsider the law of December 21, 2023, regarding specific solutions for the implementation of the budget law for 2024 (also known as the quasi-budget law). Simultaneously, the President delivered a new bill concerning special solutions for implementing the budget law for 2024 to the Parliament.
As Speaker of the Parliament, Szymon Hołownia informed, both documents have been directed for preliminary consideration by the legal departments of the Parliament. After this procedure, probably still today, they will be given the numbers of parliamentary prints. The Presidential bill will be sent for consultation and forwarded to Prime Minister Donald Tusk to present the government’s position. The presidential veto will be reviewed by the Parliament.
The Parliament will continue to work according to the schedule adopted by all political forces. The next Parliament session will, therefore, take place on January 10-11, 2024.
President Duda vetoed the quasi-budget law concerning provisions for financing public media. In his veto, the president argued that financing public media from the state budget contradicts the Polish Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and information pluralism.
The new bill on specific solutions for the implementation of the budget law for 2024 does not contain provisions regarding the financing of public media. The project includes, among other things, raises for teachers, uniformed service workers, pensioners, and disabled pensioners.
President Duda’s decision to veto the quasi-budget law may significantly impact the budget proceedings for 2024. If the Parliament disagrees with the president’s veto, the law will have to be voted on again.
