The coalition’s posture appears solid as talks begin on the 2025 budget
The Speaker of the Sejm, Szymon Hołownia, described the coalition as having a strong footing after the latest gathering of its leaders focused on the budget. He characterized the overall mood as a promising start and emphasized that the parties must now address the toughest disagreements on the table. Hołownia expressed confidence that the coalition would reach decisions that break through the current stalemate.
On Monday evening, the leaders of the governing coalition and senior ministers convened for an informal Council of Ministers to discuss the 2025 draft budget. Prime Minister Donald Tusk had previously signaled that a broader meeting would take place, bringing together Hołownia, Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Włodzimierz Czarzasty and the full cabinet to review the budget proposal for the coming year, with another large session planned for Wednesday.
Media coverage highlighted the proceedings as a candid exchange. A report noted that the discussions were productive, marking the inception of a longer negotiation phase among cabinet members and party coordinators, with plans to reconvene at early morning hours the next day before advancing to further rounds later in the week.
As Hołownia described the tone of Monday night discussions on TVN24, the talks ran smoothly so far. The sense of momentum was clear, though the path ahead remained complex as ministers explored potential additions and adjustments to the budget package while keeping in mind fiscal constraints.
End of the first formal session
By 21:30, Radosław Sikorski, the head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced on the X platform that the Monday session had concluded. The participants proceeded to assess possible refinements to the budget amid ongoing concerns about the country’s fiscal trajectory.
Hołownia noted that the government must balance affordability with ambition, acknowledging a significant interest burden tied to past decisions. He cautioned that the nation faces a substantial interest bill as a result of previous administration choices, underscoring the need to examine and adjust priorities within a sustainable framework.
He also pointed to certain priorities that are likely to shape the budget debate. Defence policy looms large as a central issue, with officials signaling that next year could feature record defense spending relative to current NATO benchmarks. The tradeoffs involved mean safeguarding national security while managing the broader economic picture.
Hołownia stressed the desire to enact meaningful programs even as economic realities constrain possibilities. He asserted that the nation would not realize its aspirations for social welfare, price stability, and energy transition unless a robust defense posture is maintained and prudent fiscal choices are kept in balance.
During the informal session, Hołownia outlined two priority tracks for his party. The first focuses on increasing social housing supply to meet a pressing need, while the second targets energy price stabilization in the medium term to help curb inflation while advancing energy transformation goals. These priorities aim to align social support with long-term structural reforms.
On the revenue side, the draft budget reportedly contemplates adjustments to health insurance premiums for fixed assets starting January 1. The proposal suggests aligning premiums with asset depreciation in a manner that reduces unnecessary costs and aligns with the broader aims of the so-called Polish Order reforms. Hołownia noted additional allocations, including more than four billion currency units earmarked to support small and medium-sized enterprises, illustrating a mix of social and economic relief efforts within the budget framework.
Conversations also addressed the so-called zero percent loan. Hołownia reiterated his party’s stance that housing supply, rather than demand alone, must be the focus of policy instruments. He argued that a loan program that does not expand inventory would fail to resolve core housing challenges and would not meaningfully contribute to the market’s stabilization.
Overall, Hołownia summarized the initial phase of the talks as a strong start, a four out of five at minimum, perhaps edging toward a plus as negotiations continue. The mood remains cautiously optimistic, with party leaders prepared to gather again and gradually bridge remaining gaps before a final decision is reached.
Governing coalitions often require steady compromise between competing priorities and perspectives. The present discussions reflect a careful calibration of defense priorities, social welfare commitments, and structural reforms aimed at fiscal sustainability and long‑term resilience. The path forward will depend on the ability of the coalition to translate broad goals into concrete budget provisions that the parliament can approve while keeping the public aligned with a credible fiscal plan.
Notes: The discussions reflect ongoing parliamentary and executive deliberations about the 2025 budget. Reports indicate a process of phased negotiation, with follow‑up meetings planned to finalize positions and resolve key contradictions. The content above summarizes statements and expectations reported by multiple outlets after the initial round of talks and is intended to reflect the tone and direction of the coalition leadership during this budget cycle.