An important decision by Andrzej Duda. The president vetoed the budget-related bill

On Thursday, the Sejm passed an amendment to the budget-related act for 2024. The amendment specifies, among other things, increase in salaries for teachers by 30 percent and increasing funds for local governments. It also included a provision granting almost PLN 3 billion to public media.

The act was supported by the vast majority of MPs (244 out of 270 present in the room). Law and Justice MPs did not take part in the vote, as they left the chamber before the earlier vote. President Andrzej Duda decided to veto this bill, which he announced on Saturday, December 23.

“There cannot be consent to this in view of the flagrant violation of the Constitution and the principles of a democratic state of law. Public media must first be repaired reliably and in accordance with the law, said the head of state.

Andrzej Duda: Public media must first be repaired reliably and in accordance with the law

At the same time, Andrzej Duda announced that he will immediately submit his own project to the Sejm on Christmas Day, regarding, among others, raises for teachers and other expenses planned in the budget-related act. “In connection with the above, I call on the Speaker of the Sejm, Szymon Hołownia, and the Speaker of the Senate, Małgorzata Kidawa-Błońska, to urgently convene a meeting of both Houses in order to consider and adopt the project this year,” he said.

The president also pointed out that an attempt to finance public media using a budget-related act (by the parliamentary majority) is “unacceptable” in the current situation. “In my bill, all other budget expenditures – including salary increases for teachers – will be maintained,” he assured.