What about the 2026 budget after the president's veto? The Minister of Finance speaks clearly
The reduction in budget revenues after the president vetoed the new excise tax rates on alcohol and the sugar levy will not require changes to the budget act for 2026, said Minister of Finance Andrzej Domański during the conference of the Norwegian entrepreneurs' organization NHO.
In December last year, President Karol Nawrocki vetoed the provisions regarding the increase in excise duty on alcohol and the sugar and sweetened beverages levy.
As Domański emphasized, the income lost in this way is “significant”, but the government “is able to manage it”. — Work on the budget in parliament is still ongoing, added the minister.
— The presidential veto works efficiently. These are bad and unwise decisions that contradict the president's stories about his alleged concern for public finances. Let us remember that all income from the sugar levy goes directly to the National Health Fund. The presidential veto will limit its financing, but we are already getting used to it, commented Domański.
According to previous estimates of the Ministry of Finance, the increase in excise duty on alcohol was to bring the budget approximately PLN 1.96 billion, and the higher sugar levy – over PLN 1.13 billion in 2026.
Budget for 2026
The Budget Act for 2026, adopted by the Sejm in December, assumes state expenditure of PLN 918.9 billion and a deficit not exceeding PLN 271.7 billion. Budget revenues were estimated at PLN 647.2 billion.
The plan provides for record spending on national defense – over PLN 200 billion, which is 4.81 percent. GDP. PLN 247.8 billion, i.e. 6.81%, is to be allocated to health care. GDP.
For comparison, the budget for 2025 allowed for a deficit of PLN 288.8 billion with expenses reaching almost PLN 921.62 billion and income of PLN 632.85 billion.
After November 2025, state revenues amounted to PLN 526.1 billion, expenditures – PLN 771 billion, and the deficit – PLN 244.9 billion.
