The United Right government has often been criticized by politicians in the current government and independent economists for transferring a large part of its spending to several funds managed by the state-owned Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego. In 2023, 22 BGK funds spent a total of PLN 132 billion. This solution was negatively assessed by the Supreme Audit Office, arguing that it violates the principle of unity and completeness of the budget and transparency of public finances. A large amount of money available outside the control of Parliament and the Minister of Finance means that it is difficult to assess the real state of the state coffers.
Despite the reservations, the financial plan for 2025 assumes that the BGK funds will spend approximately PLN 182 billion. This is equivalent to approximately 20% of the central budget expenditures (PLN 922 billion). The funds will receive subsidy money, in addition to increasing the debt by PLN 100 billion. Sławomir Dudek, an economist with many years of experience in the Ministry of Finance and currently the president of the Institute of Public Finance, estimates that the government of the October 15 Coalition, like the previous one, violates Article 219 of the Constitution, which establishes that financial management is conducted on the basis of the Budget Law.
The funds managed by BGK gained popularity after the outbreak of the pandemic – in 2020, their expenditures exceeded PLN 100 billion for the first time. At that time, the important thing was to provide capital as quickly as possible to companies that were losing liquidity, so it seemed necessary to transfer aid expenditures beyond the rigors of public finances. Many countries, including Germany, did the same. Although exceptional times in the economy are becoming a thing of the past, the funds are performing excellently because they have proven to be a good tool for circumventing restrictions. They financed their activities by issuing bonds, which do not constitute public debt according to Polish regulations (although their repayment is guaranteed by the State Treasury). According to this principle, by the end of 2024, public debt will amount to PLN 1.6 trillion, and a year later – PLN 1.9 trillion. That is 43.3%, respectively. and 47.9 percent GDP.