Krakow mayor ousted in referendum, a blow to PM Tusk

Krakow's mayor, Aleksander Miszalski, a prominent figure from Prime Minister Donald Tusk's centrist Civic Platform party, has been ousted through a municipal referendum. This event marks the first time in Poland's democratic history that the mayor of a large city has been removed via such a vote, initiated by the opposition.

Official results show Miszalski garnered 97.93% of votes against him in the referendum held on Sunday. Having served just two years, Miszalski accepted the defeat and is now required to schedule early elections for Poland's second-largest city, home to approximately 850,000 residents, within a 90-day timeframe.

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It is a purely local matter.

The government has attempted to minimize the impact of the ousting. Deputy Foreign Minister Teofil Bartoszewski described it as a "purely local matter." However, Przemysław Czarnek, a potential prime ministerial candidate for the main opposition party, Law and Justice (PiS), declared it a "personal defeat" for Tusk, referring to Miszalski as "Tusk's Krakow."

The referendum required organizers to collect signatures from 10% of the electorate, and the result was only valid if voter turnout exceeded three-fifths of the participation in the last municipal elections. These stringent requirements mean such referendums often fail; between 2018 and 2024, only 11 out of 78 attempts succeeded, all in smaller towns. Miszalski, a 43-year-old former lawmaker, faced criticism for projects like a proposed metro system amid rising municipal debt, as well as for restrictions on private transport and the expansion of hospitality venues in public parks.

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This is a personal defeat for 'Tusk's Krakow'.