Kraków Braces for Political Showdown: Tusk Defends Miszalski Against Recall Referendum

The political temperature under Wawel Hill has reached a critical level with the formal initiation of the referendum procedure to recall Aleksander Miszalski, who has been in office since 2024. Prime Minister Donald Tusk, in an official statement, gave his full vote of confidence to the Mayor of Kraków, arguing that the current attempt to remove him from power does not stem from genuine local community dissatisfaction but is a calculated strategy by the parliamentary opposition. The head of government directly pointed to Law and Justice (PiS) and Konfederacja as the architects of the turmoil, which aims to destabilize the city at a crucial moment of transformation following the long-term rule of Jacek Majchrowski. Tusk argued that Miszalski is implementing difficult reforms and that the referendum represents an attempt by forces that lost the democratic local elections to return to power. In the shadow of official declarations of support from the Prime Minister's Chancellery, sensational reports began circulating in the media regarding a potential succession. Unofficial sources suggested that in the event of a successful recall of Miszalski, the Civic Coalition had prepared a backup scenario in the person of Bogdan Klich. The diplomat, who currently heads a diplomatic mission in the United States, quickly responded to these rumors. He issued a terse statement, noting that his priority remains his duties in Washington and he has no intention of participating in the Kraków electoral battle. Nevertheless, political analysts emphasize that Klich, as a figure with high recognition and strong roots in Kraków's party structures, would be a natural leader in a potential race for the mayor's seat. Since 1990, the institution of local referendum in Poland has served as a tool of social control, but the turnout threshold (3/5 of the number of people who participated in the original election of the body) means most such initiatives end in failure.An interesting voice in the discussion was added by former Mayor Jacek Majchrowski. The long-time leader of Kraków, despite previous differences with Miszalski's camp, unequivocally condemned the referendum initiative. He called it a 'political farce,' pointing out that the same activists who unsuccessfully tried to undermine his legitimacy to hold office for two decades are behind the petition. Majchrowski also expressed skepticism about the flagship projects of the new administration. He opined that the construction of a metro in Kraków is an unnecessary expense, which stands in stark contrast to Miszalski's election promises. City Hall is trying to neutralize these attacks by promoting successes in pro-family policy, such as the dynamic increase in the number of nursery places. The wave of petitions to recall local authorities is not limited to Małopolska; a similar situation occurred in Sobótka in Lower Silesia, where a protest committee has already collected signatures for the mayor's dismissal. „To jest hucpa polityczna robiona przez tych samych ludzi, którzy mnie przez lata atakowali.” (This is a political farce carried out by the same people who have been attacking me for years.) — Jacek Majchrowski From a central perspective, the dispute over Kraków is seen as a litmus test for the cohesion of the ruling coalition and the efficiency of Civic Platform's local government structures. By engaging his authority in defending Miszalski, Prime Minister Tusk sends a clear signal that he will not allow a fragmentation of influence in strategic metropolises in favor of the right-wing opposition. Meanwhile, PiS and Konfederacja are banking on the fatigue of part of the electorate with the pace of change in the city, hoping that anti-government sentiments will translate into high turnout at the referendum polls.