The Fiscal Council, a new and independent body, is being established as part of the implementation of the EU directive in Poland. The council's tasks will include, among others: assessing macroeconomic forecasts used to construct the budget or medium-term budgetary and structural plans, which we submit to Brussels every year. Additionally, there will be advice issued opinions on the compliance of the budget act with national and EU fiscal rules. To put it simply, the Fiscal Council will look at what the Ministry of Finance is doing and review the state's financial policy.
As we wrote earlier in Business Insider, eight people applied for the announced recruitment, of which only three met the statutory requirements. The head of the Ministry of Finance chose two of them. The first one is Sławomir Dudek (favorite), president of the Institute of Public Finance think tank. His opponent, also indicated by the Minister of Finance, was Dorota Poznańska.
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Sławomir Dudek heads the Fiscal Council
Sławomir Dudek for many years he worked at the Ministry of Finance and was director of the Macroeconomic Policy Departmenta key element in the structure of the ministry, as it is responsible for preparing all forecasts and calculating the financial effects of various government ideas.
During the PiS government – after leaving the ministry – Sławomir Dudek was a strong critic of the fiscal policy of Mateusz Morawiecki's team. He criticized the previous government, among others: for pushing expenses beyond the budget and multiplying funds in the Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego, over which the parliament had no control.
Sławomir Dudek from the Institute of Public Finance
“This is a moment of which we are extremely proud,” commented the Institute of Public Finance. “Dr. Dudek, with 29 years of extensive experience in macroeconomics and public finance, in his vision for the new Fiscal Council focuses on the transparency and understandability of public finances. His approach is based on foundations that will certainly contribute to strengthening the position of this institution as the guardian of the state's financial stability,” we read in the institute's announcement.
He recalled that during the hearing of candidates in the Sejm committee, Dr. Dudek presented 11 key pillars, on which the council intends to base its activities. Among them, full transparency of operations, open data culture and active communication with citizens stand out.
The team of the Institute of Public Finance is deeply convinced that under the leadership of Dr. The Dudka Fiscal Council will be not only a substantive institution, but also an independent one, responding to the needs of citizens. “We are convinced that his vision will contribute to the development of a modern and strong Poland. This choice also emphasizes the positive, important and inspiring role of non-governmental organizations, especially think tanks such as IFP, in democracy and the public life of the country,” we read.
The Fiscal Council is born in pain. What is known about her?
In addition to the Minister of Finance, who nominates candidates for the chairman of the Fiscal Council, and the president, the Supreme Audit Office, the academic community, local government officials and social partners – employees and employers – are also involved in the selection of budget policy reviewers. In some situations, the recruitment had to be repeated.
The Director of the Fiscal Council Office will be able to earn up to PLN 22,100. PLN plus 3 thousand PLN functional allowance – according to information published on the website of the Prime Minister's office. The average salary of office employees will be over PLN 10,500. zloty.
Employees employed in the Fiscal Council Office are subject to the provisions of the Act on State Office Employees.
The information stated that the scope of the government's regulation would be expanded to include employees of the Office of the Fiscal Council. An annex will also be added to it, which will specify the rates for people employed in particular positions. And so – the rate for the director of the Fiscal Council Office will be from PLN 8,000. PLN to 22.1 thousand PLN plus functional allowance up to PLN 3,000. zloty. The chief accountant may – according to the proposed regulation – obtain from PLN 7.4 thousand PLN up to 18 thousand PLN, plus up to PLN 2.5 thousand PLN functional allowance. The rates for heads of departments have been set at PLN 6.3 thousand. PLN up to 15 thousand PLN, plus up to PLN 2,000 PLN functional allowance).
According to information published on the website of the Prime Minister's office, the main specialist in the office can count on earnings from PLN 6,000. PLN up to 14 thousand PLN, senior specialist – from PLN 5.7 thousand PLN up to 13 thousand PLN, and a specialist – from PLN 5,000. PLN up to PLN 10.5 thousand zloty. The administrator will be able to obtain from PLN 4,000. up to 7.5 thousand zloty
“It is assumed that the Fiscal Council Office will employ a total of 15 people, including the Director of the Office,” said information published on the website of the Prime Minister's Office. It was emphasized that the proposed number of full-time positions results from the analysis of the size of fiscal councils in other EU countries. Slovakia, Greece and Portugal were mentioned as examples.
