Parliament approves budget amendment raising deficit by zl.3.8 billion

The Sejm yesterday passed with a decisive majority the amendment to the 2001 budget, under which expenditure is to be increased this year by over zl.3.8 billion. The amendment was subsequently passed by the Senate in the afternoon, and now awaits the signature of the president. This is the second amendment to the budget this year. The first, introduced under the previous government, raised the budget deficit from the original zl.20.5 billion, to zl.29.1 billion. The additional zl.3.8 billion in the latest amendment has been earmarked for debt repayments, including a significant amount relating to housing loans. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B2) P.W.