Biting the hand that feeds them
Several Ministers have called on Prime Minister Jarosław Kaczyński to increase spending in next year's budget. The demands amount to some zł.13 billion in total. The most vocal critic of the current budget draft, Agriculture Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Andrzej Lepper, has even threatened Jarosław Kaczyński with early elections if his demands are not met.
Andrzej Lepper wants around zł.3 billion in additional aid for farmers, while Labor Minister Anna Kalata has demanded an additional zł.5.7 billion for welfare benefits and job programs. Other Ministers are slightly more moderate. Economy Minister Piotr Woniak says he needs an additional zł.600 million to help attract foreign investors, while Interior Minister Ludwik Dorn needs zł.2 billion for higher wages for police officers, border guards and firefighters. Education Minister Roman Giertych wants zł.1.7 billion to give pay rises to teachers, which the PM said he would consider.
Lepper has suggested raising the budget deficit to zł.33-35 billion in order to find the extra money needed. However, last week the Finance Ministry and the Prime Minister insisted that raising overall spending and the budget deficit is out of the question.
Spending in the current budget draft amounts to zł.242.2 billion and the budget cap is set at zł.30 billion, which amounts to 4.2 percent of GDP.
The cabinet is expected to formally approve the bill on September 26 and then submit it to Parliament for debate. (Reuters)
