–Former Prime Minister Belka to Leave IMF Immediately
WASHINGTON (MNI) – Former Poland prime minister Marek Belka will
leave his current post at the International Monetary Fund to take over
the reins of the nation’s central bank, the IMF confirmed Thursday.
“We can confirm that Marek Belka, director of the IMF’s European
Department, has been nominated by Poland’s acting President for the
position of Governor of the Central Bank of Poland, and that Mr. Belka
has accepted the nomination,” an IMF spokeswoman said in a statement.
“Consistent with IMF procedures, Mr. Belka will relinquish his
responsibilities as Director of the European Department immediately.”
Acting President Bronislaw Komorowski nominated Belka. Komorowski
is the parliament speaker who stepped in as acting president after the
April 10 plane crash in Russia that killed President Lech Kaczynski and
95 others, including central bank governor Slawomir Skrzypek.
The nomination requires ratification by the lower house of
parliament, which will vote on it after it convenes on June 9, the
parliament press office said, according to press reports.
Belka served as Poland’s prime minister from 2004 to 2005, as
deputy prime minister in 1997, and as finance minister from 2001 to
2002. Prior to that, Belka served as chief economic adviser to the
president from 1996-97 and 1998-2001.
** Market News International Washington Bureau: 202-371-2121 **
[TOPICS: M$$EC$,M$U$$$,M$X$$$]