By Patryk Wasilewski
WARSAW--The National Bank of Poland on Wednesday dismissed
rumors the bank's governor may resign before his term ends in June
2016.
After opposition challenger Andrzej Duda won the presidential
election Sunday, Polish media began speculating that Marek Belka
would resign from his role as central bank governor in order to
give the current president a last-minute shot at naming his
successor. Mr. Duda is set to replace the incumbent Bronislaw
Komorowski in August.
Polish daily Parkiet quoted lawmaker Jacek Sasin as saying he
had received information on attempts to accelerate the selection of
the new central bank governor.
Marcin Kaszuba, head of the bank's communications, said Mr.
Belka "plans to continue his mission in line with his mandate," and
that "the value of the zloty and Poland's financial-sector
stability always were, and will, remain his main prerogatives."
Mr. Belka was named central bank governor in June 2010 by Mr.
Komorowski after his predecessor's death in an airplane crash in
Smolensk.
Market watchers are convinced conservative Mr. Duda won't
reappoint the governor to a further term. Mr. Belka is Poland's
former prime minister, finance minister and former member of the
post-communist Democratic Left Alliance.
Poland's president picks the central bank governor, but the
appointment has to be confirmed by parliament. The EU's largest
emerging economy faces a general election in the autumn.
Write to Patryk Wasilewski at patryk.wasilewski@wsj.com