Low Turnout Invalidates Recall Vote Against Szaflary Mayor Rafał Szkaradziński

Referendum results and turnout threshold

On Sunday, residents of the Szaflary commune in southern Poland voted in a recall referendum concerning the local mayor, Rafał Szkaradziński. A total of 758 voters participated out of 8,630 eligible residents, representing a turnout of 8.78%. Among those who cast ballots, 729 people voted in favour of recalling the mayor, while 26 voted against removal, alongside three invalid votes. Despite 96.56% of participating voters supporting his dismissal, the referendum failed to reach the legally binding participation threshold. Under Polish electoral law, a local recall vote requires participation equal to at least three-fifths of the voters who took part in the original election that chose the official. In the April 2024 local elections, 3,597 residents cast ballots in Szaflary, establishing a statutory minimum of 2,159 voters for the recall to carry legal force.

The electoral authority formally registered the outcome of the vote.

The referendum is invalid because fewer than 3/5 of the number of people participating in the election of the recalled body took part in it.

Opposition petition and financial grievances

The recall initiative originated with a group of 32 local residents organised under the leadership of municipal councillor Rafał Wilkus. The committee gathered signatures to place the recall question on the ballot following disputes regarding the administration's fiscal and operational decisions. Organisers criticised the growth of the commune's municipal debt, stating that obligations rose from 8 million PLN in 2014 to more than 31 million PLN by the end of 2025. They noted that the schedule for repaying these municipal liabilities extends until 2044. Beyond fiscal policy, opposition organisers pointed to administrative tensions within the local government, citing strained cooperation with the municipal council and local volunteer fire brigades (OSP). They also alleged procedural mismanagement in local projects, pointing to a damaged marquee tent hall and an unconnected decorative fountain.

Geothermal drilling and municipal investments

Central to the dispute was the progress of a long-term geothermal heating project in Szaflary. Drilling operations began in 2016 with the initial objective of reaching a depth of 7 kilometres, intended to rank among the deepest geothermal boreholes globally. Drilling crews ceased boring at approximately 6 kilometres after encountering hard rock formations, having located hot water reserves at depths of roughly 3 kilometres and 5 kilometres. The borehole was planned to supply heat to a new communal geothermal network. Opposition leaders argued that local residents experienced delays in project execution and questioned the direct local benefits generated by the infrastructure.

Mayoral defense and administrative scope

Szkaradziński defended his administration by stating that municipal investments expand local assets and future development potential. He noted that the commune has directed more than 300 million PLN toward capital expenditures since 2014. The mayor cited investments across road networks, water supply, sewage infrastructure, educational facilities, sports complexes, cultural centres, and the modernisation of volunteer fire stations. He maintained that construction disruptions are temporary and argued that halting capital projects would prevent local progress. The Szaflary municipality consists of seven villages: Bańska Niżna, Bańska Wyżna, Bór, Maruszyna, Skrzypne, Szaflary, and Zaskale. Following the low turnout, Szkaradziński continues his term as mayor.