Belka to stay as head of central bank

Head of the National Bank of Poland (NBP) Marek Belka said that he will continue his mission on the post following suggestions by Mayor of Warsaw Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz that he should step down in connection with the tapes scandal. "If all those who play an important role on the political scene resign, then it certainly will be a very uncomfortable situation for Professor Belka to continue to have confidence of the markets. As long as the prosecutor's office was meant to explain the matter, he could have waited, just like the others. It is hard to say if he is able to wait another year. Of course, the decision is up to him, but the PM's move regarding dismissals should provoke him to think," said Gronkiewicz-Waltz in an interview for TVN24. The suggestions have met with a robust response from the central bank. "The National Bank of Poland is independent and free from the influence and pressures of a political nature. NBP President Marek Belka will continue his mission, his term expires in June 2016," said Marcin Kaszuba, director of communications at the NBP. He also said that Belka will actively participate in international decision-making bodies , conferences, meetings and debates. Marek Belka is one of the protagonists of the illegally made recordings at an upmarket Warsaw restaurant where prominent government politicians held meetings. The transcripts of tapes were published last year by weekly Wprost. On Monday evening, businessman Zbigniew S. (surname withheld in line with the Polish law on persons being currently prosecuted) posted links to the leaked documents from the investigation.