Polish Committee Recommends Central Bank Chief Face State Tribunal

A Polish parliamentary committee has recommended that central bank governor Adam Glapinski face the State Tribunal, citing alleged constitutional violations that could lead to his suspension. This move escalates the legal and political battle between the current government and the National Bank of Poland.

The committee's report accuses Glapinski of transgressions, including the indirect financing of the state budget deficit through asset purchases during 2020 and 2021. Lawmakers allege that Glapinski acted without proper authorization from the Monetary Policy Council and engaged in the political instrumentalization of the central bank.

"The committee found all the allegations to be well-founded… I see no grounds or circumstances that would cast doubt on the justification for bringing the governor before the State Tribunal," said Zdzislaw Gawlik, chairman of the parliamentary committee.

The Legal Impasse

The path to a potential trial remains legally contested. A 2024 ruling by the Constitutional Tribunal stated that any vote to bring the central bank governor before the State Tribunal requires a three-fifths majority in the Sejm, Poland's lower house of parliament. That ruling also stipulated that such a move would not trigger an automatic suspension of the governor.

However, the current governing coalition has rejected the legitimacy of that Constitutional Tribunal ruling, claiming it was issued by a body compromised by political appointments made under the previous administration. This creates a conflict between the parliamentary majority's interpretation of the law and the judiciary's previous decisions.

Central Bank Independence

Glapinski has denied any wrongdoing, framing the parliamentary efforts as an attempt to undermine the independence of the National Bank of Poland. He maintains that the central bank's actions during the pandemic were necessary to stabilize the economy and that political bodies lack the authority to dictate monetary policy.

"The Sejm and the government have no right to interfere with monetary policy conducted by the central bank," said Adam Glapinski at a recent press conference.

What Is at Stake

The dispute centers on the boundaries of central bank autonomy and the limits of executive oversight. If the government proceeds with the motion to bring Glapinski to the State Tribunal, it will test the enforceability of the Constitutional Tribunal's 2024 restrictions and potentially reshape the relationship between Poland's fiscal and monetary authorities. The outcome will determine whether the government can remove a central bank head who was appointed by a previous, opposing political coalition.