Presidential vetoes cost billions. The amount was impressive
Vetos and referral of bills to the Constitutional Tribunal could deprive the state budget of up to PLN 7.3 billion. After adding funds for the National Health Fund, the amount is even higher.
A year has passed since the beginning of the term of office of President Karol Nawrocki. During this time, he signed some laws, but also vetoed 41 legal acts and referred two laws to the Constitutional Tribunal as part of preventive control. According to money.pl estimates, decisions regarding some of the regulations could reduce this year’s state budget revenues by up to PLN 7.3 billion.
Which acts were expected to bring the greatest revenues?
Most of the vetoed bills had no financial impact, but several of them were intended to significantly increase state revenues. The highest revenues were to come from the tax on extraordinary profits of fuel companies, the value of which was estimated at PLN 3.8 billion. The others included, among others: an increase in excise duty on alcohol, tightening the SENT system and tax regulations, changes regarding family foundations and an increase in the sugar fee and tax on winnings.
After taking into account the funds that were to go directly to the National Health Fund from the increased sugar levy, the total value of potential lost revenues increases to PLN 8.2 billion. The Ministry of Finance forecast that the National Health Fund itself could receive approximately PLN 850 million annually thanks to this solution.
An expert on the consequences of decisions
Former Minister of Finance prof. Paweł Wojciechowski said in an interview with Money.pl that the president has the constitutional right to use the veto, but he should treat it as an exceptional instrument. In his opinion, blocking laws increasing state revenues hinders the implementation of the government’s tax policy. He also pointed out that in many cases the justification for the veto was insufficient, and in the case of changes to the sugar levy and excise duty, the regulations were intended to pursue both fiscal and health goals.
Referring to the Act on the Extraordinary Profits Tax, the economist noted that the solution may have raised doubts, but it was in line with the government’s “Fuel Prices Lower” program. It was assumed that additional revenues from fuel companies would help finance the reduction in fuel prices, reducing the burden on the state budget.
At the same time, over the last year the president has accepted only a few solutions that increase state revenues. One of the exceptions was the act increasing the corporate income tax for the banking sector, which, according to estimates by the Ministry of Finance, may bring the budget over PLN 6.5 billion of additional revenues in 2026.
