Skrzypek gets the thumbs down from markets

"The currency markets reacted negatively, as did the bond markets, although developments in foreign markets may have been a larger factor, " says Marek Nienaltowski of Secus Asset Management. Predictably, opposition politicians also had little sympathy for Skrzypek, saying that President Kaczynski's nomination raised very serious concern about the future political independence of the central bank. Predictably, Law and Justice expressed full support for the candidate, while Self-Defense also said it would back him provided his policies reflected the party's program. But League of Polish Families (LPR) leader Roman Giertych said that his party's backing was unlikely now that Law and Justice failed to nominate a candidate suggested by the LPR. Economists were notably more critical. Leszek Balcerowicz, the outgoing governor, said that throughout his 18 years of public service in government and academia, neither the candidate nor his achievement in the area came to his attention. His views were echoed by Prof Leszek Zienkowski of the Polish Academy of Sciences. "I admire Mr. Skrzypek's courage. If I was offered the position of an orchestra conductor. I would refuse it," he said. (Puls Biznesu, p. 6) R.M.