Kraków mayoral race: Jan Hoffman withdraws to support Łukasz Gibała

Jan Hoffman, a key initiator of the referendum that removed former Kraków Mayor Aleksander Miszalski, has withdrawn his candidacy for the upcoming mayoral election on September 27. Hoffman announced his decision on September 23, stating he is transferring his full support to Łukasz Gibała, the current polling leader. Hoffman cited internal research suggesting Gibała could win in the first round, which would allow a new mayor to influence the upcoming city budget.

Gibała has responded by pledging to implement Hoffman’s key policy demands “to the letter,” including conducting an external audit of the city, reviewing the Clean Transport Zone via referendum, and restoring 20-minute public transport tickets. Gibała’s broader platform covers 11 areas, including urban planning, housing, and municipal finance.

The election follows a period of political instability in Kraków after the May referendum. Following Hoffman's withdrawal, seven candidates remain in the race, including Monika Piątkowska, Michał Drewnicki, and Daria Gosek-Popiołek. Despite the withdrawal, Hoffman’s name may still appear on printed ballots due to the timing of the announcement.