The President of the Republic of Poland, Andrzej Duda, has announced his decision to veto the quasi-budget bill for the year 2024. This bill intended to finance public media with the sum of 3 billion złoty. The President justified his decision with the gross violation of the Constitution and the principles of a democratic state governed by law, emphasizing that public media first require thorough and lawful repair.
President Duda clarified that the veto does not mean resigning from other important matters addressed in the bill. He announced the submission of his own bill immediately after the holidays. This project is to involve, among other things, pay increases for teachers and other expenditures planned in the quasi-budget bill.
Following his decision, the president called for the Marshal of the Sejm, Szymon Hołownia, and the Marshal of the Senate, Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, to urgently convene the sessions of both Houses in order to consider and adopt his proposal still within this year.
President Duda stressed that the attempt to finance public media with the quasi-budget bill by the parliamentary majority is currently unacceptable. He noted that in his bill, all other budgetary expenditures, including pay raises for teachers, will be maintained.
In a tweet, Duda said, “I have decided to veto the 2024 quasi-budget bill, which included 3 billion złoty for public media. This flagrant violation of the Constitution and democratic state law principles cannot be overlooked. Public media must first be faithfully and…”
The prime minister responded to the president’s decision. The prime minister commented on the situation on social media, expressing the opinion that the presidential veto deprives preschool and beginner teachers of money and allows for unlimited raises for presidents of state corporations and agencies. The prime minister described this decision as shameful, while simultaneously wishing the president Merry Christmas and assuring the victims that they will cope with the situation.
His tweet read, “The presidential veto takes money away from preschool teachers and beginners, while lifting the ‘confinement,’ thus allowing unlimited raises for presidents of state corporations and agencies. It’s a disgrace. Merry Christmas, Mr. President. I assure the victims: we will handle this.”
The president’s decision sparked lively discussion among politicians and the public, becoming another crucial point in the debate on financing public media and other key budgetary expenditures of Poland.
