Polish Towns Union: Term Limits Will End Terms for 1,600 Mayors

The Union of Polish Towns (UMP) is advocating for the removal of term limits for mayors, town leaders, and city presidents, warning that current regulations will prevent approximately 1,600 local officials from seeking re-election in 2029. Grzegorz Cichy, president of the UMP and mayor of Proszowice, described the two-term limit as a significant error.

"Depriving residents of the ability to give their mandate of trust and elect whom they want, whom they consider a good manager in these uncertain and difficult times, is a mistake," Cichy stated during a press conference previewing the VI Forum of Polish Towns. He argued that experienced leaders understand their communities, residents, and infrastructure, and are adept at handling crises.

Cichy addressed concerns that long-serving officials might create local cartels. He countered that recent recall referendums in various municipalities demonstrate that residents possess effective mechanisms for holding their elected officials accountable. "Recent experiences, the number of referendums that have appeared in Poland, after the referendum in Zabrze, or in Krakow, successful for the initiators, show that we cannot talk about a cemented local political scene, that there are some cartels, that the mayor is the largest employer in their municipality. This is not true," he asserted.

The two-term limit for executive bodies of municipalities, coupled with a five-year term extension, was introduced in 2018. This applies to the 2018-2023 term and the current one, which began after the April 7, 2024, local elections and will conclude in the spring of 2029. The Forum of Polish Towns is an annual conference for local leaders to discuss challenges facing small and medium-sized Polish towns, with this year's event scheduled for September 16-17 in Warsaw.