“I am grateful for the support of the Law and Justice (PiS) community. It was very valuable. I am glad that voters who, in the first round, cast their ballots for Borys Borówka, in the second round in large part apparently supported me. Such an attitude significantly contributed to my victory,” Kamil Żbikowski, the newly elected mayor of Zabrze, told Niezależna.pl. His swearing-in will take place tomorrow at 12 p.m.
On Sunday, August 24, in the second round of the early mayoral election in Zabrze, you defeated your competitor from the Civic Platform. Before that round, you received the endorsement of Mr. Borys Borówka, associated with Law and Justice, who finished third in the first round. What does this support mean to you?
“I am grateful for the support of the Law and Justice community. It was very valuable. I am glad that voters who, in the first round, cast their ballots for Mr. Borówka, in the second round in large part apparently supported me. Such an attitude significantly contributed to my victory.”
You beat Ewa Weber, associated with the Civic Platform, by 106 votes. Gazeta Wyborcza’s Katowice edition wrote that the votes should be recounted because irregularities might have occurred during the count. The National Electoral Commission (PKW), which addressed the matter, dismissed this claim as nonsense. What is your opinion? Is this sowing discord?
“It is hard for me to assess this definitively. I was not present during the vote count. If someone believes the ballots should be recounted, they should submit an appropriate motion. The PKW surely has the best information in the matter. I am not afraid of a recount! The numbers are reliable.”
What would you like to address first after your swearing-in, which will take place tomorrow, August 27, at 12 p.m.? Will it be, for example, investments or the issue of reducing the city’s debt?
“Debt reduction is certainly very important for me. I also want to take other steps, such as the ongoing privatization of the Górnik Zabrze football club. This process is underway and must be handled so that it does not drag on unnecessarily. It needs to be brought to a successful conclusion efficiently.
Once I have access to documents and current affairs after the swearing-in, I will know what other urgent issues are in progress.”
Let us recall: on May 12, residents of Zabrze voted in a referendum to remove Mayor Agnieszka Rupniewska, associated with the Civic Platform. Later, Prime Minister Tusk appointed Ewa Weber, also linked with the Civic Platform, as acting mayor. The first round of early elections took place on August 10, sending Kamil Żbikowski of the “Better Zabrze” association and Ewa Weber to the runoff. On August 24, Kamil Żbikowski won with 50.17 percent of the vote.