Sejm passes 500+

With 261 votes in favor, 43 against and 140 abstentions, the Sejm passed the 'Family 500 plus' benefit program on Thursday.

"Today is a very important day for Polish families. This is the day when we can finally say that Poland has joined all those countries that know that a wise family policy is a matter of reason of state in any nation," said PM Beata Szydło.

Under the program, the government plans to hand out PLN 500 per month for every child in a family whose per capita income is lower than PLN 800 per month and for every second and subsequent child, regardless of family income. It is set to be introduced in April 2016. The sum is aimed at all parents, including single parents and is not subject to taxes. Last week, the Ministry of Finance criticized the program saying that its cost will exceed the budget's expenses.The government accepted the program on February 1, hence it took the government less than two weeks to proceed it to the Sejm. Passing through the 500+ program was PiS' main pledge during the election campaign before the October general election. "I kept my promise," said Prime Minister Beata Szydło while waving a copy of the document. "This is a draft of the bill that in a moment I will present to the Speaker of the Sejm," she added.