Top audit office head hangs on to job despite political pressure

The head of Poland's Supreme Audit Office (NIK), Marian Banas, said in a Wednesday statement he had intended to resign but decided to hang on to his post after becoming "the subject of a brutal political game." Banas said he was ready to answer all questions by the prosecution and declared that he was going to give up his immunity if there was a need to do so. However, he said he will continue as NIK head due to his responsibility for the institution. The Dziennik Gazeta Prawna daily wrote on Monday that Banas had quit but his letter was sent back to him by Sejm Speaker Elzbieta Witek, who, according to the paper, wanted him to nominate an acting NIK head, a request that Banas refused to fulfil.