Referendum initiative launched to recall Warsaw Mayor Trzaskowski

A campaign to recall Warsaw Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski has officially begun, with organizers submitting a formal notice to the city hall and the electoral commissioner. The initiative, dubbed the "Stołeczna Operacja Referendalna" (Capital Referendum Operation), aims to collect 132,000 valid signatures from Warsaw residents by September 28. Hundreds of volunteers have already signed up to support the effort, with plans to establish at least 15 collection points across 10 districts in the initial phase. Organizers believe that around half a million Warsaw residents may be willing to sign, particularly in light of recent controversies, such as the scandal at the Southern Hospital. They emphasize that the initiative is entirely citizen-led and not inspired by any political party, stating their shared goal is to initiate necessary changes after two decades of the same political group governing the city. Signatures can be collected at designated points, through volunteers wearing orange vests, or by downloading forms from the operation's website. To successfully convene a referendum, 10% of Warsaw's eligible voters, approximately 132,000 people, must sign. The referendum will be considered valid if three-fifths of the voters from the last municipal election participate, which translates to around 450,000 people. Warsaw has a history of such attempts; a referendum to recall Mayor Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz in 2013 failed due to insufficient turnout.

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Our action will be available to all Warsaw residents, in all districts. In the first days, we are starting with 15 points in 10 districts of Warsaw. We are prepared to launch 30 points in the first stage. I believe there will be more. We are constantly inviting volunteers.