Sejm passes 2016 budget bill

The Polish Sejm passed its budget bill for the 2016 calendar year in the early hours of Saturday morning. It projects a maximum deficit of 54,7 billion PLN. According to Finance Minister Paweł Szałamacha, such a budget will realize the pro-family policy goals of the government while keeping public finances safe. The budgetary projections call for GDP growth to equal 3,8 percent, midyear inflation -1,7 percent and public sector finance deficit -2.8 percent of GDP. Over the last days, the Sejm dealt with over 300 proposed amendments to the budget bill. Ultimately it passed only 20, all proposed by the Law and Justice party. The budget bill will now go to the Polish Senate.