NBP head: Kwasniewski names 5 candidates with Balcerowicz a favorite

President Aleksander Kwasniewski presented five candidates for the position of the head of the National Bank of Poland (NBP) and began consultations with representatives of the four leading parliamentary clubs yesterday. The shortlist includes Leszek Balcerowicz, Marek Belka, Dariusz Filar, Andrzej Slawinski and Jerzy Stopyra. Left Democratic Alliance (SLD) leader Leszek Miller said the ideal SLD candidate would be Marek Belka. Freedom Union (UW) representative Jerzy Wierchowicz claimed the President looks favorably upon Balcerowicz's candidacy. At the same time the Polish Peasants Party (PSL) would support Stopyra, Slawinski or Filar. (Prawo i Gospodarka, p.1)