Central bank head says a critical report by the Supreme Audit Office violates the constitution

The head of the Polish central bank Adam Glapiński demanded the withdrawal of the critical assessment of the banks’ actions to combat inflation by the Supreme Audit Office (NIK). Last week, NIK failed to issue a positive opinion on the government’s implementation of the state budget for the first time since the fall of communism in 1989.

NIK negatively assessed the implementation of the state budget for 2022 and advised the central bank to eliminate inconsistencies in its communication on inflation and the implementation of monetary policy. Glapiński claimed that, according to the constitution, NIK may control the activities of the NBP only from the point of view of legality, economy, purposefulness, and reliability. He also argued NIK’s assessment can lead to a “violation of the bank's independence”. 

At the same time, the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) warned that Poland’s state audit office faces threats to its independence and its ability to properly carry out its functions.