Warsaw Cooperative Residents Oust Long-Serving Board After 12-Hour Assembly

Residents of the "Torwar" housing cooperative in Warsaw have achieved a significant victory, successfully voting to remove their three-member board after a marathon 12-hour general assembly. The ousting of the board, whose president had served for 25 years, marks a rare instance of resident empowerment in cooperative management.

The assembly saw a record 16% turnout, triple the usual attendance, highlighting the residents' deep engagement and determination. Beyond removing the board, the residents also voted to halt a previously approved investment, demonstrating their collective power to override decisions made by the former leadership.

This action follows a pattern of residents asserting their influence, as the cooperative's authorities had previously ignored their opposition to the halted investment. The residents now plan to pressure the supervisory board and the newly elected management to conduct a thorough investigative audit, similar to one undertaken at the Warszawska Spółdzielnia Mieszkaniowa after a change in leadership.

The "Gazeta Wyborcza" reported that the mobilization effort united residents of all ages, with a photograph accompanying the article showing both younger and older individuals involved. The residents intend to push for the audit to ensure transparency and accountability within the cooperative's operations.