Independent wins Kraków mayoral race in setback for PM Tusk
Despite the strong result, mayor-elect Łukasz Gibała will have to work with Poland's ruling parties.
Independent candidate Łukasz Gibała secured a decisive victory in Kraków's mayoral runoff on Sunday, defeating a candidate supported by Prime Minister Donald Tusk. According to an exit poll, Gibała received 61% of the vote compared to 39% for Senator Monika Piątkowska. With a 44.7% turnout, Gibała's win marks a setback for the governing Civic Coalition in Poland's second-largest city.
The result follows the removal of Mayor Aleksander Miszalski, also backed by the Civic Coalition, in a May referendum. Gibała acknowledged the need to cooperate with Civic Coalition and its partner party, the Left, which control 23 of the city council's 43 seats. The independent candidate, who has previously lost mayoral elections, campaigned on breaking away from the political establishment and addressing public discontent over Kraków's debt and plans for a low-emissions zone.
Piątkowska, backed by the Civic Coalition, tried to distance herself from Miszalski and argued that her ties with the national government would benefit the city. Despite remaining ahead in national polls, the Civic Coalition faces challenges in retaining power following the upcoming fall parliamentary elections.
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- Independent beats PM Tusk’s candidate in Kraków mayoral election notesfrompoland.com
