Commission approves Balcerowicz for NBP head, Sejm vote on Thursday

The Public Finance Commission yesterday approved former Finance Minister Leszek Balcerowicz's candidacy for the post of National Bank of Poland (NBP) president. After a tough questioning session, the committee narrowly voted to approve Balcerowicz. The deputies, who split into two antagonist groups - Freedom Union (UW) and Solidarity Election Action (AWS) in favor of Balcerowicz and Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) and Polish Peasants Party (PSL) opposing him, voted 19 for and 17 against. If the Sejm approves Balcerowicz with a majority of votes, as expected by analysts, he will replace central bank chief Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, who leaves for a senior post at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in January. The final Sejm vote is scheduled for Thursday. (Reuters, Gazeta Wyborcza, p.20) P.J.