Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, a candidate in the European Parliament elections, criticized NBP President Adam Glapiński, insisting that he must be held to account promptly for alleged legal breaches and for compromising the dignity and seriousness of the office. In a long-awaited interview with PAP, the former Warsaw mayor criticized the delay of the Reprivatization Verification Commission and noted that she had not appeared before it when its work began.
At the end of March, a group of 191 MPs from the ruling coalition filed a motion to summon Glapiński before the Court of Justice. The charge centers on violations of the constitution and other laws, including claims that assets purchases in 2020-2021 indirectly financed the budget deficit during the peak of the pandemic. The government subsequently introduced additional shields to support businesses and households in the face of the crisis.
The process has started and should progress. Gronkiewicz-Waltz described the pace as slow and emphasized the need for a full examination of all documents accessible to the State Tribunal judges, followed by a decisive ruling.
Gronkiewicz-Waltz urged readers to note the motion to bring Glapiński before the State Tribunal and argued that accountability is essential for safeguarding the integrity of the institution. She also referenced a recent piece highlighting that Gronkiewicz-Waltz and Balcerowicz advocate for presenting Glapiński to the State Tribunal, citing perceptions that he supported the ruling party.
Gronkiewicz-Waltz asserted that central bank governors are not immune to change. She pointed to the European Central Bank as a model of independence, noting that serious misconduct can lead to dismissal. She also recalled a December letter from Christine Lagarde, President of the ECB, addressed to Glapiński and discussed the ECB framework that protects independence under Article 14(1)2 of the ECB Statute, ensuring governors of national central banks are shielded when appropriate. Lagarde’s correspondence was presented as pointing out the protections that exist to maintain independence.
Nevertheless, Gronkiewicz-Waltz argued that Glapiński overstepped by behaving in a manner she described as party-aligned and by not considering other political options. She maintained that calling Glapiński to account before the State Tribunal would serve as a lesson for future presidents, underscoring the importance of avoiding entanglements with the government and preserving independence even as political winds shift.
The former Warsaw president advocated for a legal reform of the National Bank of Poland’s statutes, suggesting parallels with the ECB to establish a single eight-year term for the central bank governor. A Civic Platform politician echoed this view, arguing that the law governing the NBP should be modernized to strengthen governance and accountability.
Gronkiewicz-Waltz also reflected on the broader political dynamics surrounding Glapiński’s tenure. She remarked that the debate is highly political in nature and that past forecasts about inflation and policy have unfolded in ways that pleased some analysts while surprising others. She noted that Poland has weathered the Covid period and the inflationary pressures linked to the war in Ukraine, stressing that the country’s public finances are comparatively stronger than those of many eurozone nations. She warned that those who stand to gain from euro introduction in Poland may not be the Polish people, highlighting the need for cautious, evidence-based discussions about monetary and fiscal policy.
Recent coverage has tied Gronkiewicz-Waltz to discussions about reform and accountability. Reports underscored that she and other political figures have called for a rigorous review of Glapiński’s actions and for clear accountability mechanisms that protect the independence of Poland’s central bank while ensuring governance remains transparent. The broader debate continues to unfold amid political maneuvering and ongoing evaluations of policy outcomes during the Covid era and the subsequent inflation period. Observers note that the situation touches on questions about the balance between independence, accountability, and the political responsibilities of central bankers.
Analysts highlighted that the discussion around Glapiński sits within a wider narrative about monetary policy, fiscal resilience, and the readiness of legal instruments to reinforce independence without compromising democratic oversight. The public discourse remains engaged, with a focus on ensuring that central institutions operate with integrity and that any actions taken by high-level officials withstand scrutiny from both legal and parliamentary perspectives.
READ ALSO: Gronkiewicz-Waltz and Balcerowicz advocate for presenting Glapiński to the State Tribunal, with discussions centering on his perceived political alignments and policy decisions. The evolving story continues to attract attention from observers across the political spectrum of Poland.
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Source: wPolityce