Marek Belka

Former finance and PM and a high-ranking IMF official, Marek Belka, was sworn in today to the post of the head of the National Bank of Poland (NBP). Most analysts are unanimous that the new governor is a skillful, influential and highly qualified person for the job.

Danuta Isler reports

The 58-year-old professor of economics Marek Belka served as the country's finance minister and deputy premier of Poland's leftist government from May 2004 to October 2005. He also headed the UN Economic Commission for Europe and was in charge of Iraq's economic policy under the US-led provisional authority in 2003. For the last two years he was the head of the crucial European Department of the International Monetary Fund.

Economists applauded the choice as did finance minister Jacek Rostowski, who speaking to Polish Radio expressed hope that Marek Belka will be an independent governor who will successfully cooperate with the government