Komorowski with Belka (right). Photo - east news

With support from left wing MPs, Civic Platform pushed through the nomination of Marek Belka (left) as head of the National Bank of Poland. He will be sworn in to the post today.

The vote in the lower house of parliament (Sejm) was carried by 253 for to 184 against on Thursday. The vote split the ruling coalition and depended on support from the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD). Those voting against the nomination of former prime minister Belka to lead the central bank included MPs from the Law and Justice party, joined by politicians from the junior coalition partner, the Polish Peasant’s Party (PSL).

The position to lead the central bank had to be filled after the death of Slawomir Skrzypek in the Smolensk air disaster on April 10, which also took the lives of president Kaczynski and 94 others.

PSL and Law and Justice argued that as only acting president, Bronislaw Komorowski did not have the mandate to nominate a new chief of the central bank, and the matter should wait till after the presidential elections.

Komorowski expressed his satisfaction with the vote in parliament. “Now, the NBP has been fully stabilised following Smolensk,” he said.

Under Poland’s Constitution, the President of the Polish National Bank is appointed by parliament for a six year term. The NBP chief cannot belong to a political party, trade union or perform public activities incompatible with the “dignity of his office”.

SLD, after reservations about the nomination ahead of the presidential elections, finally decided to join Civic Platform in the vote on Thursday. MP Marek Wikiński said that Belka has proven himself to be an able economist, efficient manager and an experienced politician: “This rare combination of qualities will be undoubted assets as new central bank governor,” he told TVP public television.

Opposition

Law and Justice MP, Beata Szydlo, who voted against the nomination, claimed, however, that the opinion of constitutionalists, dictated that such a decision should not be taken at present. “This is not a time when such essential personnel decisions are taken,” she said.

Deputy Prime Minister Waldemar Pawlak (PSL), who also voted against, claimed that during Wednesday's hearing by the public finance committee, Belka avoided answering questions on vital issues such as currency options, priorities in monetary policy and the optimum zloty exchange rate at which Poland should join the euro zone.