Warsaw council rejects bid to oust roads chief after whistleblower firing, as leaked note contradicts official story

The whistleblower’s account

Piotr, a specialist at the Municipal Roads Authority (ZDM), refused an oral order to insure vehicles seized by the city, arguing the city did not yet own them and asking for a written instruction. The written order never came, and Piotr says he and two colleagues then faced retaliation: reduced bonuses, impossible tasks, and restricted access to tools. He reported the matter to ZDM director Łukasz Puchalski and later to the city hall, obtaining formal whistleblower status in November 2025. Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski personally promised him protection.

The president of Warsaw assured him of protection through an authorised director.

Despite that, Piotr was handed a termination notice in January 2026. The dismissal letter cited, among other things, a letter he had sent to Trzaskowski. Piotr has appealed to the labour court, represented by attorney Bartosz Lewandowski.

Contested knowledge of the whistleblower status

ZDM has insisted it did not know Piotr was a protected whistleblower when it decided to fire him. In a public statement, the authority said the decision was based solely on poor performance, listing over a page and a half of alleged failings. However, a service note dated 26 January 2026, published by the investigative outlet Zero.pl, shows that during the termination meeting Piotr presented a document from the mayor forbidding any action against him.

Mr [whistleblower’s name], after reading the content, refused to sign the documents, stating that he holds a document from the Mayor of Warsaw prohibiting any actions against him. At the request of Ms Godlewska, the employee showed the document.

Zero.pl also reports that the city hall exchanged correspondence about Piotr’s case with ZDM before the dismissal, further undermining the claim that the roads authority was unaware of his status.

Council showdown and vote

An extraordinary session of the Warsaw city council on 6 July 2026 saw a motion by Law and Justice (PiS) councillors calling for Puchalski’s dismissal. The debate was sharp, with Puchalski defending the sacking and making remarks about the former employee’s wife that drew criticism across party lines. The motion was rejected: Civic Coalition (KO) councillors voted against, Left and Miasto Jest Nasze abstained, and PiS voted in favour.

The employment contract with Mr Piotr was terminated for very significant reasons unrelated to his report. It is over a page and a half of charges, together with information that the employee has the right to appeal to the labour court.

Labour inspection and legal fallout

The State Labour Inspectorate (PIP) conducted a four-month audit at ZDM. It found only a minor violation: the authority had incorrectly calculated Piotr’s holiday entitlement and underpaid his leave equivalent. ZDM says it corrected this immediately. The inspectorate did not examine the whistleblower aspect. ZDM has demanded a correction from Zero.pl and says it will prove its case in court. Piotr’s lawsuit is pending.

Political dimension

The affair has become a political flashpoint in the capital. Opposition figures accuse Trzaskowski of betraying a whistleblower he had sworn to protect, while the mayor’s office maintains the case is closed. Zero.pl notes that no final assessment of the whistleblower’s report has been made, meaning the matter remains open. The controversy adds to pressure on Trzaskowski, who already faced calls to resign over irregularities at the Southern Hospital.