Jabłoński has no doubt: bringing the NBP president before the State Tribunal is a violation of the central bank’s independence

Summoning the head of the NBP before the State Tribunal is a violation of the central bank’s independence; Adam Glapiński, thanks to his decisions, managed to reduce inflation and at the same time we did not experience an increase in unemployment – PAP told the Deputy Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Paweł Jabłoński.

On October 21, KO leader Donald Tusk said in the Sejm of the Republic of Poland that the opposition had the majority to bring NBP President Adam Glapiński to the State Tribunal.

Tusk’s announcements

At this point, we have a majority vote sufficient to summon the NBP President to the State Tribunal. We are analyzing this issue because we want to make responsible use of this very serious disciplinary tool to establish political and sometimes criminal liability of politicians and top officials.

– Tusk emphasized.

In response, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki stated that he would talk to representatives of the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the European Central Bank – to draw their attention to the fact that the announcements of Donald Tusk and the Civic Coalition “the biggest attack on the independence of the central bank”.

The President of the European Central Bank (ECB), Christine Lagarde, wrote in a letter to Glapiński that if the Sejm were to adopt a resolution to impeach the NBP president, he could appeal to the Court of EU Justice.

The deputy head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in an interview with PAP that the current opposition’s announcements violate the central bank’s independence.

During the election campaign, Donald Tusk spoke about the use of force against the President of the National Bank of Poland, which is incompatible with the norms of a democratic state.

– he assessed.

I don’t understand this approach at all. I have no idea why the NBP president would be brought before the State Tribunal; the president who, thanks to his decisions, managed to control and then reduce inflation – and at the same time we have not seen an increase in unemployment

– he said.

Jabłoński pointed out that the independence of the NBP is important for foreign partners.

It is well known that the provisions regarding the independence of the central bank are very important for Poland’s various foreign partners and if anyone wanted to subordinate the central bank to make it part of their policy, he would wish to replace or suspend the President during his term of office if he were to hold office, this would be contrary to both the Polish Constitution and international rules applicable to all civilized countries

– said Jabłoński.

Letter from the President of the ECB

He also emphasized that President Lagarde’s letter is additional confirmation of this.

However, the most important thing is the Polish Constitution, which clearly establishes the independence of the central bank and if anyone wanted to violate it, they would be acting against the Polish Constitution in the first place.

– added.

The President of the ECB wrote in a letter to the head of the NBP:

In the event that MPs from former opposition parties do indeed submit a preliminary proposal to the Sejm, any measure that affects your ability to perform your duties as President of the National Bank of Poland, if unlawful, may undermine your independence and thus the independence of the Polish government. General Council (ECB – PAP).

She added that the ECB’s statute “provides protection in the event that the Sejm were to subsequently adopt a resolution to impeach you, as such a resolution would lead to your automatic suspension from the duties of President of the National Bank of Poland (NBP). and member of the General Council of the ECB”.

According to Lagarde, the NBP president could ask the Court of Justice of the European Union to assess the legality of the resolution.

In turn, in the information previously sent to PAP, the CJEU press service drew attention to the 2019 Opinion and Judgment on the Head of the Latvian Central Bank. They show that the independence of national central bank governors enjoys special protection.

gah/PAP