Polish lawmakers approve 2009 budget

WARSAW, Poland - The lower house of Parliament approved Poland's 2009 budget on Friday, cutting spending by 1.7 billion zlotys (euro44 million, $56 million) to cope with the effects of the world financial crisis, which is expected to reduce the nation's economic growth to 3.7 percent.

Earlier this year, the government had hoped for growth of 4.8 percent in 2009.

The national deficit is expected to be 18.2 billion zlotys (euro4.7 billion,$6 billion), lower than this year, and inflation at 2.9 percent.

Poland plans to adopt the euro current in 2012, and curbing its deficit and controlling inflation will be required to do that.

The budget still must be approved by the less powerful Senate and by President Lech Kaczynski.

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