Miszalski breaks his silence

Aleksander Miszalski, removed from office as Kraków mayor in a referendum held on 24 May, published a long post on Friday, two days before the runoff. It was his first public statement since the referendum. He wrote that he had kept quiet for more than four months by choice, using the time to reflect on his mistakes.

“I spent over four months in silence, it was my conscious decision. I needed time to look at my presidency from a distance, analyse the mistakes I made and think about what I could have done differently.”

Miszalski acknowledged that he had tried to change too many things at once, including tidying Kraków's finances, carrying out difficult reforms and starting major investments. He said he bore political responsibility for this. The referendum result was 171,581 votes for his removal and 3,631 against, according to RMF24.

Accusations against Gibała

Miszalski directed his sharpest criticism at Łukasz Gibała, whom he said he has known for 18 years from their time together in Platforma Obywatelska. He recalled that Gibała headed the party's Kraków structures while Miszalski served as its secretary. He accused Gibała of inconsistency, saying he once valued party members he now attacks.

“Today I listen to what he says, what he promises, and I state with complete firmness that he lies, manipulates or shows basic ignorance. His actions are calculated to disinform and dressed in populist slogans.”

On the referendum, Miszalski said the financial report of the referendum committee shows that the association Kraków dla Mieszkańców, which Gibała founded, contributed in-kind support valued at almost 1.9 million zloty, while total declared costs were just under 2 million zloty. Gibała had presented his role as merely supporting residents. Miszalski also rejected claims about 3.5 million zloty spent on the city newspaper during the referendum period, saying the figure covered a full year of publication. He added that a Kraków appeals court had upheld a ruling ordering Gibała to correct a statement that six KO councillors were open to cooperating with him.

Backing for Piątkowska

Miszalski urged residents to vote for Senator Monika Piątkowska, whom he called a good, proven and committed manager. He said she had learned from his mistakes. Former mayor Jacek Majchrowski, who led Kraków from 2002 to 2024, also endorsed Piątkowska in a recorded message, saying she had worked with him in the city hall for more than 10 years. Former NIK head Marian Banaś also praised her.

“She is a good, proven and committed manager of our city's life, whose official and legal experience will allow Kraków to develop dynamically, while fighting the growing debt.”

In the first round Gibała, an independent, finished first, and Piątkowska, backed by KO and PSL, qualified for the runoff. Campaigning ends at midnight on Friday, and the vote is on Sunday, 11 October.