Banking investigation commission hamstrung by tribunal

The commission can still legally function, however, it has no right to conduct certain investigations nor control the chairman of National Polish Bank (NBP), Leszek Balcerowicz. The tribunal decided that NBP is an independent institution and the banking commission can only investigate the activities of ministers, not that of private persons or entrepreneurs. The tribunal also decided that the paragraph defining the time period that the commission is using for its investigation is unconstitutional. According to resolution, the commission was to investigate the situation in the banking sector between 1989 and march 2006. According to the tribunal, however, there are no grounds for this specific period in time to be selected. Sejm is now planning a rapid change to the resolution, and until this is completed the chairman of the commission, Artur Zawisza, says that the commission will not be able to interrogate any witnesses. (Rzeczpospolita, September 23-24, p. A1, A4) M.M.