The push to bring NBP President Adam Glapiński before the State Tribunal can be initiated at any moment, according to Jan Grabiec, the head of the Prime Minister’s Chancellery. He indicated on Wednesday that a decision on the matter could arrive in the coming hours.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk had announced on Tuesday his intention to file a motion to present Glapiński to the Court of Justice. In response to questions in the Sejm on Wednesday, Grabiec said the proposal would be submitted in the near term, describing it as a matter of the coming days.
When asked whether the action would occur during the current Sejm session, Grabiec stated that the decision would likely be made by the head of the KO caucus together with the prime minister.
A decision could come within hours, Grabiec remarked, noting that the motion was prepared and MPs were in the process of signing it. He added that the petition was ready for filing at any time.
Asked what specific NBP president decisions would justify a State Tribunal proceeding, Grabiec said the details of all allegations would be contained in the petition, which would be published soon.
Over recent years, numerous concerns have been raised by the broader economic community, including legal professionals, about possible breaches of the law by the NBP president. The central charge emphasizes that the president allegedly failed to perform statutory duties and instead aligned with the interests of the party in power at the time.
Grabiec stressed that the NBP president should be apolitical and independent, arguing that Glapiński’s decisions often reflected party interests rather than the goals of the Polish economy or the National Bank’s mandate.
The proposal to impeach the NBP president was part of the Civic Coalition’s “100 details for 100 days” program announced last autumn ahead of the parliamentary elections.
The plan to appear before the State Tribunal includes provisions such as that the Sejm elects the NBP president by an absolute majority in the presence of at least half of the legal number of deputies, while a 3/5 majority (276 deputies) would be required for adopting the motion and related actions by the Sejm and government officials.
In early January, the Constitutional Court ruled that several provisions of the State Tribunal law were unconstitutional. The court found that summoning the NBP president before the State Tribunal could automatically suspend the official’s duties, and it also deemed the rule requiring an absolute majority for summons unconstitutional when applied to the governor of the central bank before the Constitutional Court. The court observed that the 3/5 threshold applied to requests concerning the NBP president did not align with the Constitution. This case was a petition brought by PiS parliamentarians to the Constitutional Court.
The Tribunal called for changes to the law and indicated that the Sejm should pause any impeachment proceedings until legal safeguards were enforced.
In a position issued in early March, the Monetary Policy Council argued that bringing Glapiński before the State Tribunal and suspending him from office would undermine the central bank’s independence and erode confidence in the financial system. The MPC warned that such a move could jeopardize Poland’s economic stability and the perceptions of stability on the international stage, noting the central bank’s role within the European System of Central Banks and other institutions. Six of the nine council members endorsed the statement.
The ruling majority has accused Glapiński of political activity before the last elections and of presenting misleading information about the central bank’s 2023 financial results.
Signatures of parliamentarians
The members of the governing coalition have celebrated the act of signing the petition to the State Tribunal, presenting it as a decisive step toward accountability for Glapiński.
Respondents described the move as a powerful statement of intent, with some claiming their signatures came with solid justification and compelling documentation.
A few legislators noted they had signed the petition without hesitation, emphasizing the seriousness of the allegations against the NBP head, including accusations of market manipulation, pressure on the zloty, higher inflation than the EU average, and concerns about the independence of the central bank during the pandemic period.
The public discourse surrounding the matter has included references to higher-level questions about the NBP’s governance and the role of the central bank within the Polish and broader European economic framework.
Additional coverage on this topic has been reported by various outlets, including Telewizja wPolska, and interpretations from political leaders continue to shape the debate over the proper oversight of the central bank.
Source: wPolityce