Polish government announces 'responsible' budget

“If we need to amend the budget, in my opinion probably in the middle of next year, we will not hesitate to do so,” Finance Minister Jacek Rostowski said yesterday after the 2012 budget draft was agreed by the coalition government cabinet following October's elections.

The agreed draft envisages a deficit of 35 billion zloty (8 billion euro) with GDP growth rates of 2.5 percent.

The government has followed the World Bank and others in reducing expectations for GDP growth next year.

The budget sees revenues coming in to the government coffers of 294 billion zloty (65 billion euro), though, as Minister Rostowski said, adjustments may have to be made due to the great uncertainty in the eurozone.

“The crisis is coming from the outside and we must be ready to quickly respond to events there,” Rostowski said yesterday.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk called the revised budget draft “highly responsible”. “A crisis is a time for responsible activity that will help people survive,” he said.

The budget draft will now be put before parliament. (pg)