Gliwice residents collect signatures for referendum to remove mayor

The association GLIWICE2026 has collected over 18,000 signatures to initiate a referendum aimed at removing Katarzyna Kuczyńska-Budka from her position as the Mayor of Gliwice. This total exceeds the legal requirement of 12,716 signatures by approximately 40 percent.

The initiative follows allegations from organizers regarding budget mismanagement, unfulfilled election promises, and the decision to abandon the construction of a new municipal hospital despite public funds being allocated to the project.

The Provincial Electoral Commissioner in Katowice now has 30 days to verify the validity of the signatures. If approved, a referendum must be held within 50 days of the decision's publication. For the result to be legally binding, at least 3/5 of the number of residents who participated in the previous election must cast a vote, which equates to at least 29,364 people.