The Sejm, with the majority of the 13 December Coalition, adopted the draft Budget Act for 2026 in the third reading. 233 MPs voted “for”. 197 were against, and no one abstained. The debate was very heated, and the opposition accused the government of indebting Poland for years to come.
The leader of Razem, Adrian Zandberg, pointed out that the plan does not address current needs, including those of the healthcare system. “We are in a real and severe crisis in public healthcare. Planned medical procedures are being cancelled. Drug programmes are under threat. We have a situation in which the public system is essentially falling apart, and private entities are benefiting from it,” he listed.
He also pointed to the difficult situation in Polish science and the deficit at the National Science Centre (NCN). “There is no funding for basic research. This budget does not secure funds for scientific infrastructure. This is yet another budget under which young researchers in Poland will earn 3,500 zł gross. This is a budget full of mistakes. Simply mistakes, because these decisions – Prime Minister – are strategic mistakes for which thousands of sick people will pay, and whose effect will also be that we will lose more talent, that young scientists, young researchers who could develop Poland, will leave the country and build the strength of other states,” he said.
He stressed that the governing majority rejected all amendments proposed by his party, adding that MPs could have submitted them as their own – but chose not to. “We have one of the most outrageous anti-development budgets. This is a budget that foretells a deep and severe crisis in public healthcare next year and great harm to thousands of people. Razem cannot support this budget; we will vote against this act,” he stated.
Attacking the Predecessors
Mirosław Orliński of PSL spoke next, referring, among other things, to “huge investments” in security, the economy, and infrastructure. Another representative of the governing majority, Jarosław Urbaniak of Civic Platform, also spoke positively. He stated that the opposition’s criticism of the budget act is part of democracy. He also attacked the predecessors – though he departed from the truth.
“Let me remind you: in 2023 inflation was 18.4 percent [actually 11.4 percent – editor’s note]. Today, year-on-year for November, it’s 2.4 percent, exactly the inflation target. Another important element: the year 2023 – your last year in government – economic growth, GDP growth 0.1 percent, today 3.4 percent, and in this budget 3.5 percent. […] This is a budget that allocates huge sums – not for salaries of your buddies in management boards, not for projects and concepts, but for real investments in Poland. We support it,” he said.
A Grossly Irresponsible Construction
PiS MP Zbigniew Kuźmiuk began by noting that the ruling coalition rejected all “fundamental” amendments submitted by his party. “23 billion zł for healthcare, 9 billion for a 7-percent pay rise in the public sector, 1 billion for science, and you did not even agree to shift 1.6 billion within the Labour Fund (FP) to active forms of combating unemployment. That is why we cannot support this budget,” he said.
“But we also cannot support this budget because it has a grossly irresponsible construction. You were just talking here a moment ago about some expenditures… For every expenditure next year, you will have to borrow one third of the money. One third of the money for every expenditure,” he emphasised.
He reminded that in 2024 the budget fell short by 56 billion zł to meet the planned targets. “This year it will likely be 50, and for next year you planned a budget in which VAT revenues are 8.5 billion lower than this year, even though we have 3.5 percent GDP growth and 3 percent inflation. CIT revenues are rising only because you additionally taxed the banks. And the enormous debt…” he said.
“Over three years, that is 1 trillion 100 billion. Two ones and eleven zeros. That is how much the public debt will grow. Over the last 30 years all governments have indebted us by 1 trillion 600 billion. You, in three years, by 1 trillion 100 billion. This is extreme irresponsibility,” he stressed.
“A Madhouse”
The issue of Poland’s debt was also raised by Marek Jakubiak of the Republicans. “If we could describe this budget somehow… Borrowing 33 percent to spend 70, this is a madhouse. If you cannot make money, then do not spend it. Give up power, and that will probably be the healthiest thing for the Republic,” he said.
“No one in the history of the Republic has indebted the state the way you have, and no matter what you say here, you need to live more frugally so as not to burden future generations with more debt. And your saying ‘after us, the Deluge’ is at least insulting to the intelligence of Poles […] and Polish women. We will not support this budget because we will not allow senseless debt for your peanuts and your whims. You purchased more limousines than there are ambulances in Poland, and this protest by court employees is a sign that you disrespect everyone – even those associated with Żurek,” he declared.
Budget Adopted
The budget was supported by MPs of Civic Platform, PSL, Polska 2050 Party, New Left, as well as two unaffiliated MPs – Izabela Bodnar and Tomasz Zimoch.
Those voting against included politicians of PiS, Confederation, as well as the parliamentary groups Republicans, Razem and the Confederation of the Polish Crown. Also voting against were Łukasz Litewka of the New Left, and unaffiliated MPs Paulina Matysiak, Marcin Józefaciuk and Tomasz Rzymkowski.
The act will now be sent to the Senate.
The Budget Act for 2026 assumes that state expenditures will amount to 918.9 billion zł, and the budget deficit will reach 271.7 billion zł. State revenues are planned at 647.2 billion zł. VAT revenues are expected to total 341.5 billion zł, excise tax to bring in 103.3 billion zł, 80.4 billion zł from the corporate income tax (CIT), and 32 billion zł from the personal income tax (PIT).
