A campaign to collect signatures for a referendum on recalling Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski and the Warsaw City Council will begin this Thursday. The organizers argue that residents have had enough of the way the capital is being governed, pointing to what they describe as a long list of failures and unmet expectations. “The documents are already prepared,” said Maciej Wilk, the initiator of the Warsaw Referendum Operation, in a social media post.
At the end of June, Rafał Trzaskowski announced that he had accepted the resignations of two of his deputy mayors – Renata Kaznowska and Aldona Machnowska-Góra. Kaznowska had been responsible for education, healthcare, public health policy, sports and recreation, as well as cooperation with the Warsaw City Council.
The mayor did not disclose the official reasons for their departures or name their successors. However, the resignations were linked to the controversy surrounding Warsaw’s Southern Hospital.
At the time, public speculation had already emerged over whether Trzaskowski might share the fate of Aleksander Miszalski, the former mayor of Kraków, who was removed from office. A referendum on dismissing the Civic Platform (KO) politician from his position as mayor of the capital may now become a reality.
Signature Collection Begins
The launch of the campaign was announced by Maciej Wilk, the founder of the Warsaw Referendum Operation. In his latest post on X, he said that volunteers would be present in every district of Warsaw starting Thursday.
“The documents are already prepared. Beginning on Thursday, you will be able to meet our volunteers in every district of the capital. You will recognize them by their distinctive orange vests,” the post reads.
The initiative aims to hold a referendum on recalling both Rafał Trzaskowski and the Warsaw City Council.
According to the campaign schedule published on the Warsaw Referendum Operation’s website, signature collection will begin on July 30 and continue for 60 days.
This will be followed by a 30-day verification process.
Under the proposed timetable, the referendum would be announced in October and held in December.
Criticism of the City Authorities
The organizers argue that Warsaw City Hall has failed to manage the capital effectively. Among their main criticisms is what they describe as an oversized municipal administration employing more than 9,000 civil servants and generating multi-billion-zloty costs.
They also point to the two failures at the Czajka wastewater treatment plant, the prolonged renovation of the Congress Hall, and changes to the city’s traffic organization. The initiative criticizes the narrowing of streets, the removal of parking spaces, and the introduction of the Clean Transport Zone, arguing that these measures have made everyday life more difficult for residents.
The organizers also accuse Rafał Trzaskowski of failing to devote sufficient attention to the affairs of the capital, claiming that he treats the office of Warsaw mayor as a stepping stone in his national political career.
How Many Signatures Are Required?
For the referendum to be held, the organizers must collect signatures from at least 10 percent of Warsaw’s eligible voters. This means gathering approximately 132,000 signatures.
The referendum itself will only be valid if voter turnout reaches the legal threshold. In Warsaw, this requires the participation of approximately 450,000 voters.