Officials commit SLD to maintaining Monetary Policy Council status quo

Two senior members of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) have said that if as expected the party wins this month's elections, it does not plan to shorten the term in office of members of the Monetary Policy Council (RPP), the body responsible for setting interest rates. Deputy speaker of the Sejm Marek Borowski said, "There will be no such assassination attempts. Changes are only possible after the present term ends." The SLD's senior economic official Marek Wagner insisted, "The SLD is not trying to blackmail RPP members." The SLD's repeated attacks on the RPP's independence have been criticized by the financial markets and RPP officials. (Reuters)